Keywords
NHL, trade deadline, hockey trades, player analysis, sports commentary, NHL playoffs, Mitch Marner, Rantanen trade, Four Nations Tournament, hockey broadcasting
Summary
In this episode of the Trade Deadline Show, Ali Moosa and Ryan Paton discuss the latest trades in the NHL, including Nyquist’s move to Minnesota and the implications of Rantanen’s trade to Carolina. They delve into the future of Mitch Marner with the Leafs, analyze the impact of recent acquisitions, and explore the intersection of politics and sports. The conversation also highlights the excitement surrounding the Four Nations Tournament and pays tribute to notable broadcasters in the hockey community.
Takeaways
Nyquist’s trade was unexpected and raises questions about his future.
The Rantanen trade reflects deeper issues within the Carolina franchise.
Mitch Marner’s attitude may affect his future with the Leafs.
Ottawa’s recent moves show promise for their future.
Sports should remain an escape from political issues.
The Four Nations Tournament was a successful alternative to the All-Star game.
Jordan Bennington’s performance was crucial for Canada’s success.
Broadcasting legends Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph deserve recognition.
The NHL trade deadline is a pivotal moment for teams.
Passion and talent are essential in sports broadcasting.
Titles
NHL Trade Deadline Insights
Analyzing the Rantanen Trade
Sound Bites
“I love what Ottawa is doing.”
“Jordan Bennington was key for Canada.”
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to the Trade Deadline Show
00:49
Initial Reactions to Trades
04:53
Miko Rantanen’s Trade Controversy
09:10
Mitch Marner’s Future with the Leafs
12:22
Leafs’ Acquisitions and Playoff Strategy
15:10
Political Climate and Player Decisions
18:15
The Role of National Anthems in Sports
19:23
Emotional Impact of Trades in Hockey
22:01
Politics and Sports: A Complicated Relationship
24:11
The Success of the Four Nations Tournament
27:28
Celebrating Broadcasting Legends
33:01
The Future of Broadcasting in Sports
35:36
Personal Journeys in Broadcasting
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Transript:
Ali Moosa (00:30.734)
Good afternoon on Wednesday, March the 12th, 2024. Welcome to the Trade Deadline Show, I am here joined by Ryan Paton from the Pucks in 7 podcast, as well as the, as well as Sirius XM NHL Network Radio’s
Ali Moosa (01:06.67)
hot stove.
I appreciate you taking some time and jumping in. they can find Pucks in 7 on YouTube, as well as everywhere else at Pucks in 7.
Ryan M Paton (01:55.969)
Of course.
Ryan M Paton (02:07.34)
Yes, youtube.com slash add Pux and seven. That’s where you can find the video portion and anywhere you get your podcast, Spotify, iHeart radio, Amazon, Apple podcasts, the Sirius XM app as well. So yes, have a listen. We have a lot of fun doing it.
Ali Moosa (02:22.924)
Yeah, so I’m going to start by first of all, we’re going to start with the first trade that sort of went down initially that kicked that kicked it all off was the Gustav Nyquist being traded to the the wild. When you saw that, what was your initial reaction there for that piece? Because of I was very shocked now.
Ryan M Paton (02:34.083)
Mm-hmm.
Ali Moosa (02:51.134)
Especially because he ended back up for the second with his second stint with the wild
Ryan M Paton (02:55.766)
Yeah, I’ll say this. It was one of those moves that I thought was going to happen. when we spoke during the outdoor game between Detroit and Columbus, Don Waddell was on the show, the GM of the Blue Jackets, and he admitted that he kicked tires on the Nike fist to try to get him to come to Columbus. And it didn’t come through. So
With Nashville, basically the situation for them this season, everybody knows it’s been awful. It’s been terrible from the get go. So much promise going into this season based on what they did in the off season with the acquisitions of Stamco and Jonathan Marchesel. And then you got Yossi on the back end, Saros and Goal as well. You have a very good team on the ice, at least on paper during training camp. And then it’s not been very good. So I was not shocked. They can’t trade Nashville.
they’re not able to trade a Stamkos, they’re not able to trade a Marcia, so even though I’m sure we’re gonna talk about a Rantan in a little bit on this show, so they had to do that. Minnesota’s look, they’re certainly eyeing and trying their best to grab a playoff spot and lock one in, and I’m firmly confident in them that they’re gonna do that. And I like Nyquist, I think he’s a little bit underrated, and certainly he’s going to a much better team now as he was in Nashville.
Ali Moosa (04:15.502)
Yeah, that’s interesting because I think it was such a short time, right? He was just with The Wild back in 2023 and now he got traded back to The Wild. So I thought that was a little bit surprising to me.
Ryan M Paton (04:35.168)
It was one of those things I think too, where the Nashville Predators, you know, certainly put his name, put his name out there and they wanted to see what they could get, I think back in return. And if you look at the contract that he has, I’m just actually getting up right now because it didn’t want to be a mistake. So he’s in the last year of his contract, year two of two, he becomes a UFA at season’s end. So this is a pure rental for Minnesota.
If there is any contractual obligation going forward, I don’t think Minnesota makes this deal because I do not believe that he will resign with Minnesota. I think he’s going to sign a contract with somebody else. How old he’s 35. He doesn’t have a lot of track track left alley when it comes to the NHL. So I think this was a pure rental and I think he still has something to give you really that you put them on a better team outside of Nashville. And I, uh,
I like the move and I like that he’s going back to Minnesota.
Ali Moosa (05:37.344)
Okay. And that, yeah, I I, I think that’s an interesting perspective I feel because where, because, yeah, no, he’s, if he can, if he can prove though this year that he’s able to kind of keep the numbers up, I think any team will want to.
Ryan M Paton (05:53.76)
I agree with that. Absolutely agree. And this again, you have to put these trades into perspective when it comes to players like a Gustav Nyqvist. He’s been around the game a long time. He’s had success. I think he’s been a decent hockey player. Has he been a great player? No. Very good? No, but he’s been good. He’s been good enough. And if he’s trying to get another contract, I’m sure some team will give him a contract, maybe a two year deal, three years, I think would be pushing it. Maybe he’ll sign a one year contract.
at the end of the season because he’s going to be the USA as I mentioned. He needs to look at this as an opportunity to get that contract as an audition for other teams. Maybe Minnesota Alley will find that they like what he did in the last bit for them as they head toward the postseason and maybe they’ll offer him a contract. I don’t know. It upon the cap situation as we know what’s going up. So I just think this is a good a good part for any person in Nike’s position to really take it as an advantage for him.
He’s playing on a contending team. He’s playing on a team that more than likely will get into the postseason. And he’s now, as he knows, also playing for Contra.
Ali Moosa (07:00.268)
Yes. Yeah. No, there you go. Yes. Now, starting now, you mentioned Miko Rantanen back there. I want to sort of get your thoughts there. What did you think of, like, your thoughts on that sort of piece? I thought that whole thing was very interesting. And I think you can see what’s coming after that. So go ahead.
Ryan M Paton (07:08.408)
Yeah.
Ryan M Paton (07:21.294)
boy, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll say this. it’s easy for you and I, for example, to, listen to deals and see them go down and, and be armchair GMs. It’s like in football, you’re the armchair quarterback, right? And so we can say whatever you want thinking, I can’t believe that happened. I’ll say this. It’s an embarrassment for the Carolina hurricanes franchise. It really is. And Eric Tulski has tried to do the media rounds the last number of days after the deadline on Friday.
Ali Moosa (07:23.864)
Hahaha!
Ali Moosa (07:35.26)
yeah, yeah I agree.
Ryan M Paton (07:50.242)
to explain why they could not sign Ranton into an extension and keep him on. He knew, he knew the moment that Miko Ranton arrived, Ali, that he was not going to sign extension. We have a guy on who we talked to, Adam Gold, and he follows the Carolina Hurricanes very extensively. And he said that essentially on day one when Ranton arrived in Carolina, he made it known to the Canes and Rod Brindemore, the head coach, that there’s four teams in the league that he doesn’t want to play for. And one of them,
is the Carolina Hurricanes. So imagine that one of the first things that you see in here coming out of somebody’s mouth after they’re just traded to your team, the head coach thinking, okay, wow, you, don’t want to be here. So Eric Tulski said, it’ll be an audition. I’m going to leave it a little bit. Give them a week, give them 10 days. It was clear to me as day from the moment he stepped on the ice in the first game for Carolina, he wanted nothing to do with the Canes long-term. So I’ll say this. Eric Tulski took a chance.
He swung and he missed. He was hoping even though he knew and he said this, he knew that Rantanen was not going to sign long-term, but he decided to make the trade anyway. So that is a terrible, terrible knock against the Carolina Hurricanes franchise. And also what does that say to you Ali about the Carolina Hurricanes as a team? If Miko Rantanen doesn’t want to sign long-term in Carolina, that means other players don’t want to sign long-term in Carolina. So I think what the Canes did was, again, they took a swing.
and they missed. Now again, you get a Logan Stankhoven at the end of it through a couple of trades who have draft picks, that’s fine. But you lose Mikko Rantanen and not only that, you lose a Jack Drury and a Marty Natchez going to Colorado. You’ve lost three really good hockey players in the matter of month and a half, almost two months. Not acceptable.
Ali Moosa (09:41.099)
No, and also it says, it speaks volume that the environment there in Carolina isn’t good.
Ryan M Paton (09:50.186)
No, it does. And that’s right. And what I find even more interesting about all this is that the Canes are in a playoff spot right now. And I was one that didn’t believe the Canes would be in this position at the beginning of the season. I was in the minority. I totally understand that. I think a lot of people too thought the Rangers would not be in the spot they’re at now. They would be cruising in the Metro division, but I was in the minority. But the fact is they’re in the win now mode, right? The NHL is so competitive.
and so tough and so there’s so much parity that you need to win now because you never know when you will get another chance to do so but by giving up what you’ve given up and by not having this rent and thing work out that’s not win now mode anymore you’re a look ahead to next year even the year after that the canes are not winning the stanley cup they’re not are they going to get in probably yes to the postseason but they’re not going to win but you’re right to your point about what this says about the franchise and the city
With all due respect to the city, it just seems to me that Carolina’s not on the top of many free agents list in order to go to.
Ali Moosa (10:57.262)
I think the, and see now the other thing that comes into play here is that, and we sort of teed it there a second ago, that apparently they were asking for Mitch Marner to be traded, be, they wanted to end now. so that Miko could end, that Renton could end up with the Leafs. I would have personally been okay to see that personally.
Ryan M Paton (11:00.173)
Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (11:15.789)
Right.
Ryan M Paton (11:26.904)
That’s an interesting take. Tell me why.
Ali Moosa (11:30.498)
Because it’s obviously, it’s very clear to me with the way that Mitch Marner, yes, Mitch Marner has the numbers and he has the stats and he has been performing well this year. I will take all that into account, but.
Ryan M Paton (11:40.492)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Ali Moosa (11:50.702)
The way his attitude is with the media, I take that, know, he just doesn’t want to be here. That’s where I’m, that’s my take. He’s not, he doesn’t want to be in Toronto. Because he keeps going, oh, I’m not going to discuss the contract. I’m here to play for the Leafs. I’m here to win this, that. That’s where I stand.
Ryan M Paton (11:54.434)
Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (12:03.264)
Interesting.
Ryan M Paton (12:10.156)
Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (12:15.402)
A couple things with that. Number one, the whole Ranton and Marner deal that the Carolina Hurricanes went to Brad Tree Living and they did ask him and Tree Living went to Mitch Marner and asked him to waive his no trade. And there’s a reason why you have agents and players negotiate no trades and no move clauses in your contract. And that is a reason why Mitch said no. But that put Mitch on notice.
that the Leafs were thinking, yeah, you know what, we’re fine with trading you for Miko Randon, who’s won before. He has the talent like a Mitch Marner does, et cetera, et Mitch then goes out, of course, the next game against Colorado and he scores a couple of goals. And you can see too, the other night when he was playing Utah, he scored the shootout winner. And to your point about the media, he seemed to move his hand a bit saying, know, enough of you saying all this stuff, yada, yada, yada. I will say this, that he will test free agency.
he’s going to yeah he’s going to it’s not to say he’s not going to resign with with toronto carolina also didn’t want to make the deal because they didn’t want to face toronto later on in the postseason however that was before they asked for ranton and sorry for mitch marner in that deal mitch marner has rubbed the media the wrong way yes he has there’s a ton of rumblings and different stories that have come and gone about mitch marner in the room
Ali Moosa (13:11.306)
yeah, I agree with that.
Ryan M Paton (13:37.57)
different things like that. I don’t want to get into that, but I will say this. If this lights the fire under Mitch for the postseason, because the Leafs are going to make it. We just don’t know if there’ll be one, two, three in the Atlantic. If this lights the fire under him to put all those ghosts of not playing well in the playoffs like in Austin Matthews and like a William Nylander, I can go on and on and on. I’m fine with it. And if this is your last couple of months or three months with this team.
then you go all in as much as you can. So we’ll see. We’ll see what happens. But as now Mitch is a leaf and their focus is trying to get through 82 games and then on to game one of the postseason.
Ali Moosa (14:20.462)
I like what you said there, but, but, but kind of circling, like he has, no, he has with the way he’s behaved with the media and continues to, he’s sort of rubbed everything and, and the wrong way. I just, I’m not a fan of that.
Ryan M Paton (14:36.566)
Yeah, and I think you your sentiment is shared by many to be honest, and I know that there’s probably certain individuals close to the locker room and members of the media that have felt the same way that you have. And I get it. He he comes across. He comes across differently. There’s a lot of personalities in the league. There’s a lot of other individuals in the league who come across like Mitch, and it seems like I don’t know.
He loves the game. He says he loves Toronto. I think though he wants to certainly look after himself more so than the team that he’s playing at this time. And that’s Toronto just at the moment. But he’s got to be professional regardless of what he is to the media and how people think. You’ve got games to play. You’ve got wins to win. You’ve got points to put up. You’ve got to Stanley Cup the win. So get on it and go get it.
Ali Moosa (15:22.689)
Yes.
Ali Moosa (15:31.662)
Yeah, exactly. when it comes to the end now, the leaves also like see kind of kind of kind of talking about the moves that they did make. They did acquire Scott Lawton, not to be confused by, I almost said Laughlin, but anyway.
Ryan M Paton (15:39.809)
Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (15:45.614)
No, they didn’t. He’s still in he’s still at Sirius X. He he he is a no trade clause alley in his contract. Yeah. Yeah.
Ali Moosa (15:53.502)
Yes. Shout out to Scott. Love to have you on someday.
Ryan M Paton (16:00.984)
I think it’s a good deal. think what they gave up was not very much for Scott Lawton and this is the player that the Leafs do need going forward into the playoffs and he was very static coming to Toronto. A lot of guys are coming to Toronto. So I think this was a good one. I knew Brad Tree Living had Lawton on his list for a number of months and also too I think last year, maybe the year before the Leafs were kicking the tires on Scott Lawton as well.
Ali Moosa (16:01.72)
Right.
Ryan M Paton (16:29.006)
It’s always a change when you spend all of your time with one team like Scott Lawton did with Philly But now he’s a chance to win. He has a chance to come on to a team where he is put in a position right away He can kill penalties as well go on the power play if you want probably not but if need be I’m sure he could But he’ll be on PK. They’ll give you 10 12 minutes if you let him he’ll be tough in the corners tough on the puck
And that’s what the Leafs need. They can’t be bullied and pushed around like they’ve been bullied and pushed around before when it comes to the playoffs. So I like the move and I think it’s a great fit.
Ali Moosa (17:02.67)
They also had another trade that kind of they also acquire some of the another one the name escapes me but the leafs
Ryan M Paton (17:08.142)
Yeah, so they got Brandon Carlo from Boston and he had a great line. He said, because he’s American and he’s been with Boston forever, kind of like Lawton’s been with Philly, he said, you know, I was shocked when it was Toronto. I’m happy I’m going to Toronto, but Boston trading everybody to either the Panthers or to Toronto or just other teams in that division. But I like that as well. You can’t have enough defensive help and depth.
Ali Moosa (17:10.56)
Yeah, Brendan Karlo, that’s it. Thank you.
Ryan M Paton (17:37.1)
when it comes to the playoffs. And again, the Leafs didn’t give up a ton. They gave up Fraser Minton and Connor Timmons is gone as well. I understand you got to give up something to get something. I do like the addition and I think the Leafs certainly after those two moves are a lot stronger than they were before.
Ali Moosa (17:54.222)
And Dürer has gone to.
Ryan M Paton (17:56.33)
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And I mean, it’s you know, there’s a bunch of players over the course of deadlines and even before deadlines that have to be moved for cap reasons. And also just because there’s no room for them anymore with with the club. So I hate to see anybody go, but I do like the the returns the Leafs to get in those deals.
Ali Moosa (18:17.974)
Now, the comment of his comment of being surprised that he came to Carlos comments of coming to Toronto. Do you think it like I mean, we he may not be the first one, but I think we’re going to see a lot of that. We might end up seeing a lot of that due to due to the situation going on in the world right now.
Ryan M Paton (18:44.202)
Right, yeah, and I can see that. I can see that angle, but I can also probably, I’ll side on, I don’t think that that’s gonna be something that will prevent players from going to a Canadian team who are American. And the reason is, actually, I hope this is the reason, you’re professional. Whatever is happening on the ice in a hockey game.
Ali Moosa (19:08.929)
Yeah.
Ryan M Paton (19:09.024)
It is nothing to do with Canada in the US. It is nothing to do directly with what is going on. And for those that boo the anthems as well, enough. Enough already at booing the anthems. It doesn’t make it right. You don’t need to boo the anthem. If you don’t agree with the leader of one country who is just doing things that you don’t agree with, you don’t need to boo an anthem because then you’re booing
the entire country thinking the entire country is behind this one individual. Everybody knows who we’re talking about. And then you’re also booing everybody who has served the country beforehand, all the history that comes with that. So I just think it’s ridiculous. Every player on the ice is enough of it already. I don’t think it’s going to happen very much anymore. But to your point, I don’t see this being an issue for any American going to one of the Canadian teams.
Ali Moosa (20:04.404)
Okay, so you don’t see the political movement being an issue then.
Ryan M Paton (20:08.482)
No, I don’t. And maybe part of it is because I hope it’s not. And I would I would really trust that all these players are professional and realize that when you’re going to team in Canada, yes, you’re playing in that country, but you’re not playing for that country. You’re playing for that team. And there’s 32 teams in the league, not a lot of Canadian ones. But it shouldn’t change what you’re doing as a profession. You’re playing a game.
You’re trying to win for that team and you’re trying to win that team that cup. And if it just so happens that that team is from Canada and they finally get the cup for the first time since 93, then so be it. But I don’t see there’s any political restraints involved here with an American going to a Canadian team.
Ali Moosa (20:55.83)
No, you know what, and I agree with you. Like I’m on the same side of that because I hope that that is the case and it’s going to be like the fallout I think is just going to be interesting because yeah, and it’s just going to be interesting because like to see whether it will be and it shouldn’t be a factor because of the professional angle and booing the anthem.
Well, I don’t know. It’s not right to boo the anthems. And some people have said that they should just take it, take the anthems out of sporting events. I don’t know what I think of that, but I don’t know.
Ryan M Paton (21:39.598)
you brought that up because I will say that I don’t think it’s needed. I have never thought that to be honest. I mean that’s that’s with no disrespect whatsoever to any anthem that’s ever played in any arena in any stadium in any sport with any country. Nothing at all. I don’t see the real point of playing an anthem before a game. I never have. I understand there’s a lot of people that are probably thinking that I’m in the minority and I probably am.
But I would be fine with the anthems not being played before any game.
Ali Moosa (22:14.83)
You know what though, I think I, like, you know what, I kind of, I’m starting to feel the same way because of all the whole, like, because of all this, because of all the political movement and then, and all that stuff. And then you had all this stuff that kind of go on, right? And I think I agree with you there.
Ryan M Paton (22:19.694)
Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (22:33.886)
I also have this sentiment on the whole anthem. And it’s this, take Toronto or take any team in the league. You’re not just having Americans and Canadians playing on those teams. You have Russians, you have players from Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic. The list goes on and on and on. So when you play those two anthems,
Ali Moosa (22:37.432)
Yes
Ryan M Paton (23:00.684)
Yes, I know the games are played in the US and also played in Canada. I understand that. But when you play those two anthems, you’re not playing the anthems for anybody else who was born outside of North America. So in that respect as well, if you’re giving respect to those two countries, I believe you should give respect to every single country that is represented on your team. I know that’s that’s never going to happen. Totally get it. But again, that goes back to my point. I think the anthems I just don’t
I just don’t feel that they need to be, that they need to be something.
Ali Moosa (23:35.214)
And the other trait too, yeah, is that that sort of was a bit of a highlight for me was Dylan Cousins ending up with the senators. The reaction there?
Ryan M Paton (23:41.954)
Ugh.
Ryan M Paton (23:45.618)
That yeah, that that was I was so happy with that trade. And you know, look, if you look at the Atlantic division right now, you’ve got Toronto, Florida, Tampa, one in those three will decide the top three in that division. And Toronto, if they come second or third, they will play either Florida or Tampa Bay, one of the two. it’s gonna have to go, they’re gonna have to go through the state of Florida to get to round two.
if they don’t win the division. they do win the division and Ottawa is in the second wild card spot, wouldn’t that be something? Or if they’re in the first wild card spot, wouldn’t that be something to see the battle of Ontario between Toronto and Ottawa? I think that would be awesome. I love what the Senators are doing. I really do. think Brady Kuchuk is leading this team to as far as he possibly can. And I know that he was a little bit upset with
The guys going back especially his buddy Josh Norris totally understand that but when you can add a Dylan Cousins and you can add a Dennis Gilbert but to add a center like a Dylan Cousins I I loved it. I really did and I know you had to give up something totally understand that but at the end of it I love what Ottawa did and I love this move
Ali Moosa (25:04.234)
It speaks to the emotional side of the game too. When the players kind of, when they get, you know, when they get acquainted and like having people, like having them around the clubhouse, it’s an adjustment for them to just kind of get, you know, get used to a trade like that happening.
Ryan M Paton (25:31.66)
think it’s a great point you make. It shows that sports is emotion and you bond with players, you get to know players, you become very close with them. And the trade deadline is, it’s a great day for a bunch of NHL players, ones that know they’re not going to be traded. They know that they can go and they can sleep through the whole day. Their phone’s not going to ring. They’re not going to wake up and see on Instagram or something like that that they’ve been dealt.
But then you’ve got a bunch of guys who dread the day because if you’ve all if you’ve established yourself in your community with your team in your city and you have family, all of a sudden you’ve got to regroup and you have to take everybody out and go somewhere else. And not only that, you leave the bond that you have with the teammates that you have created. And it’s one thing to return to the city and play for the opposing team and see your buddies again, but it’s never going to be the same. So I’m with you.
Sports is great. Times like this is when you really remember that it can be full of emotion, and it is.
Ali Moosa (26:41.388)
Yeah, no. yeah, and I want to sort of before we sort of talk a little bit about the the four nations a little bit, but I want to talk about with you. What about like and we did talk about the anthem a second ago, a few minutes ago, but what about like? are like? I don’t know. I’m not I don’t like the idea now of politics getting into sports now. And I mean, I get some people say that they kind of mix.
Ryan M Paton (27:04.205)
Hmm
Ali Moosa (27:09.346)
But I’m not really a fan of that now. Because I pay attention to sports to get away from that, to escape from that.
Ryan M Paton (27:21.326)
That’s a really good point and I’m glad you brought that up because I am totally 100 % behind you with sports being an escape. I remember 9-11 and even some moments after that that have affected sports. And I remember specifically with 9-11 when they halted sports, they halted baseball and everything else.
And I remember thinking in my head and hearing and actually saying when I was on air, said, sports is an escape from what is going on in the world. So I hope that sports comes back sooner than later. So not that we’re forgetting anything, but for three hours, if we watch a game, then we can put it aside just for those three hours and focus in on the team that we’re cheering for, the player that we’re cheering with or for as well. I don’t like when sports becomes political.
I know that it’s a platform for a lot of teams and players and individuals to make statements. Totally get it. If you and I were in professional sports and if we felt very strongly about something, maybe we would use that as a platform and maybe our team would use that as a platform. But if that happens, the casual fan looking onto that club thinking, you know, I don’t want to…
I don’t want to go through this and now you’re doing this even though I’m cheering for you so I’m not escaping that. So I’m with you 100 % Ali. I just want sports to be that escape for everybody. Sometimes it’s not but for the most part it is I feel.
Ali Moosa (28:56.91)
And here’s the other thing, like now you also saw, you see, now this is kind of like even during the Four Nations Cup, there was a lot of things that and that kind of went on. Now, before we sort of went over your thoughts on the tournament, personally, my thoughts, I loved it. I love the tournament.
Ryan M Paton (29:14.19)
I’ll say this Do away with the all-star game do away with it. Just just give me just give me four nations. Give me six nations Give me it doesn’t matter. Give me that two-week stretch of competitive hockey where you’re playing for something and And that would be great. I thought it was it was awesome The attendance was through the roof the viewership the listenership was unbelievable on our channel the amount of people that listened and
Ali Moosa (29:21.304)
huh. Yep.
Ryan M Paton (29:43.512)
the amount of people that went on the website and tweeted and were on Instagram was through the roof. They couldn’t have done anything better than this. And we had Gary Bettman on the commissioner on the show during the outdoor game in Columbus, again, between Detroit and the Blue Jackets. And he said that it was everything that they wanted and it came out with flying colors. And I really hope that they continue this. I don’t want this to be a one-off.
I would like to see more nations because I do think you could put together a really good team from Russia. I think you could probably find a pretty decent team from Czechia. But having Sweden, Finland, Canada and the US for the best nations, for some of the best nations when it comes to hockey, you couldn’t have asked for anything better. And again, to have it Canada and the US two alley, the final game to decide the championship and the winner. I thought it was awesome.
Ali Moosa (30:41.974)
You know, and here’s the thing, you know, and we should give a shout out to Steve Coolius and Scott Laughlin for everybody involved in the coverage. And even Mark Aflalo as well for being the tech guy.
Ryan M Paton (30:53.548)
Yep. Top notch. Yep. Yep.
Ryan M Paton (31:01.474)
He is, I’ve said this all the time when it comes to whatever I’m doing, if it’s TV, radio, and all the years I’ve been doing it, everybody quote unquote behind the scenes, making sure that we sound fine, making sure that we’re plugged in, making sure everything technically is working. They do not get enough credit. I always make sure that at the end of my show, that I do on the weekends, that I thank our op because he’s one of the best. And again, you know.
He pushes the buttons. That’s what he says he does and I said no Mikey you do a lot more than push the buttons You really do you’re a huge part of the show. So yeah, shout out to everybody involved with it I thought the coverage was a great pregame in game postgame coverage off day coverage as well But mark a follow. Yeah tip my cap. Absolutely to him for a job. Well done
Ali Moosa (31:49.834)
Absolutely, yeah, I think, yeah, and you know, he, know, I mean, you know, and Steve did the play by play. He did an awesome job with that.
Ryan M Paton (31:58.926)
He did, he did. And hockey’s been in his blood. I’ll tell you a little story about Steve Coolius. I know that there’s millions of stories, but here’s one. I’ve known Steve for over 20 years, a long time. And we go back a long way. And during our days at the score, when we were in the Edit Swedes voicing highlight packs, every Saturday night, Steve would get the Maple Leafs game because Steve is a diehard.
Ali Moosa (32:03.917)
Go for it.
Ryan M Paton (32:26.112)
Maple Leafs fan like a lot of us are but he is just an absolute diehard Maple Leafs fan and every Saturday night that the Leafs were playing which is pretty much 99 % of the time he would come in and he’d have this Maple Leafs sweater on and his sweater was knit by his grandmother and the sweater was about 10 sizes too small for him but every Saturday night he would parade around the newsroom and in the suites with the sweater
and he’d watch the game, voice the pack. Hockey’s been in his blood alley from the get-go and really really happy to see what he’s doing. I thought he did a great job.
Ali Moosa (33:05.134)
He did, and he’d be a good one also to have a conversation about the NHL with.
Ryan M Paton (33:14.478)
No, he absolutely would he could talk he could talk for hours literally you ask him one question and he’d fill the full 45 minutes
Ali Moosa (33:19.982)
Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah, I know. That’s it. We’re all we’re gonna work on it. We’ll work on getting them on. Yeah. And what about Canada winning the cup? What do you I mean, I thought I was happy that Canada won.
Ryan M Paton (33:25.826)
Yeah, absolutely.
Ryan M Paton (33:37.356)
Yeah, and I’ll say this. The reason why they won was because of Jordan Bennington. And I’ll be the first one to admit when they announced that he was part of the team, like, let me just change that. When they announced the goaltenders that would represent Canada, first thing I thought was why the heck wasn’t Logan Thompson on that team? Because when they announced these, these goaltenders at the near the beginning of the season, I thought as well, it was a little bit too soon for these rosters to be announced, but that’s a topic for another day. Again, I was a little bit concerned about the goaltending with Canada.
Jordan Bennington improved as the games got better and as the games got more intense and more important. And I’ll never forget, and I’m sure you won either and a lot of other people, when John Cooper was on the ice after Canada won and he went over and he was shaking everyone’s hand on the team and he went to hug Jordan Bennington. And he, couldn’t really make out what he was saying, obviously, but then the audio was, was, was boosted and you can hear what he said and I’ll paraphrase, but he said something like,
big games call for big time players, this is your time. And I thought that that to him for Bennington was incredible because he was fantastic against the United States and he got better as the tournament progressed and he never didn’t start. He started every single game and maybe some people questioned what John Cooper was doing because he had other options to go for, but he knew what he was doing. He stuck with him and I’ll tell you something.
Jordan Bennington wins in Boston. He won the cup with St. Louis when they were in Boston and he beats the US in Boston at the Four Nations. One thing he said afterwards that was awesome. He said, yeah, they don’t like me very much here in Boston because all he does is win big games and big, championships. So I thought it was great. I do think Canada got better as the tournament went on that first game between the US and them when they had the nine seconds, the three fights in nine seconds. I thought that that was ridiculous to be honest, but whatever it set the table and set the tone.
But I thought Canada all in all was the better team going in and they found a way to get it done.
Ali Moosa (35:42.358)
Yeah, no, they certainly were. you know, certainly I’m on, you know, I enjoyed that and I’m looking forward to the to the next tournament as well. I’m looking and and it will be a lot of fun. It’s almost kind of like it’s I thought it’d be something initially similar to the World Juniors, but I think it was a lot more a lot of fun.
Ryan M Paton (36:11.436)
Yeah, and I think this was the the intensity was was more. It came during a break in the NHL season. You have four nations coming together with rosters of some of the greatest players in the game today, and that’s with no disrespect to the World Juniors, but that’s at a different level. And it was it was different. It was something the league has not done in a long time. They’ve had World Cups before a while ago.
but this is not something that’s been done in a bit. And they also had to make sure that what they did was good enough and optically pleasing to replace the All-Star game. And it did, as I said to you, I’d be fine with the All-Star game coming and going and being gone. don’t think it’s, there’s no point of it anymore. It’s a break for a lot of teams.
And when you’re on the ice, it’s a glorified game of shinny. Nobody really cares what they’re doing. They’re just out there to have some fun. But when you have competitive hockey, give me the four nations any, any day of the week.
Ali Moosa (37:13.59)
Yes, and you know what, and just before we sort of, you know, wrap it up, you know, we should give also, we should also really give it, and we did this the last time we did a show here together, that we should give Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph a shout out to.
Ryan M Paton (37:26.754)
I think I said this to one of the times we’ve done this and we have talked about Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph. I’m good friends with his Jim Ralph son, Jesse. And Jesse is one of the funniest people. He’s a comedian. And I used to do work with him at Sirius XM and he decided, I’m going to drop that and take my act on the road, so to speak. And he’s become a very successful comic at what he’s doing. But he is one of the most down to earth people that you will ever meet. And even before I knew him, I’d pull for Jim Ralph.
I pulled for Joe Bowen. spoke to Joe Bowen just in passing last year, had about a half an hour conversation with him. And he told me something interesting. He said, every time the season’s done, every time it’s over at the last broadcast, and hopefully this year it’s gonna be after they win the Stanley Cup, but that’s a long way to go. After each broadcast when the season’s done, he looks to Jim Ralph and Jim Ralph looks to Joe Bowen and they say, it’s been a great ride. We hope this isn’t our last game.
And that’s been their mentality and sentiment for a long time because they just don’t know if things will change. So every time they’re welcome back, they’re just absolutely a static. And I think that they’re one of the two best combos in the game. And this isn’t, this isn’t bias. I think they work well together. Jim is specific to what he does. Joe is specific to what he does.
Ali Moosa (38:47.979)
Yes.
Ryan M Paton (38:49.226)
and they tell the story and they have fun and at the end of it all broadcasting is like that you tell the story you have fun and you hope you can convey the picture to people listening as best you can on the radio because if you don’t do that you’re not doing your job so yeah credit to them i think they’re awesome i hope they never stop i know at some time they will but they they’ll go down in history as some of the great voices in the history of the toronto maple leaves
Ali Moosa (39:16.128)
No, I agree with that. here’s my, I’ll give you sort of my, I’ll give you my hope for Jill and Jim right here. Yes, people watching or listening. Yes, I’m saying we’re making it public here that I hope that they get that they will be around doing the broadcast for at least another two years.
Ryan M Paton (39:22.574)
Sure, sure.
Ryan M Paton (39:41.58)
Hmm.
I’m gonna go even further. Let’s make it at least five. I know it’s pushing. I know it’s pushing because again, they’re not, you know, they’re not young anymore and they’re getting up there in age a bit. But I just think when you have it and you’re two talented people like that and they have it, you just keep going. And if you love what you do, which they do, and everybody loves hearing them every single game.
Ali Moosa (39:48.727)
I agree. Well, that’s even better. Yeah.
Ryan M Paton (40:09.656)
There’s no reason to, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, Ali. Keep it going, because it’s been an awesome ride.
Ali Moosa (40:15.912)
It has and I think it’s gonna all be like, I mean what’s gonna be interesting is what happened. I mean what will be interesting is what happens to the Leafs Radio rights and because I see some changes happening there.
Ryan M Paton (40:28.481)
Yeah.
Yeah, and that’s the thing with this business, Ali. I’ve been around it a while. I’ve seen many come and go. I’ve seen changes. It’s hard. It’s a very tough business to not only get into or be in, but to stay in. And somebody or some group can come in and they have a completely different agenda and a different outlook on things. And they want to make some changes. And when those changes happen,
Ali Moosa (40:34.262)
Yeah.
Ryan M Paton (40:58.518)
A lot of times these new people bring their new personnel in. It’s kind of like a new head coach or a GM in hockey, for example, as we’ve talked about in this show. If a new GM comes in, if the coach is still there, he probably wants his own coach. He either wants to let the coach go that’s presently there, get someone else a week till the off season and bring in somebody on his own terms. So that’s why Joe and Jim say what they do to each other at the end of every season, because they know they’ve been in the business a long time.
And it just takes one group to change and hopefully that’s not going to be case for them for a long time to come.
Ali Moosa (41:29.421)
yeah!
Ali Moosa (41:35.338)
Exactly. You know what, and I have to be honest with you, I had, you before I started doing this, before I started doing this show, and as you can see now, I’ve got some branding and everything to it.
Ryan M Paton (41:44.334)
Yeah, I think you’re amazing. I think you’re absolutely fantastic.
Ali Moosa (41:48.992)
Yeah, no, and I appreciate that. know, my honestly, when I was younger, I had like when I was I always had dreams of getting into and I don’t know if I might have shared this on air, but of that into broadcasting, you know, because I always loved news. I always love news. I always love sports. And of course, I and I still do. And I always wanted my dream was always to do a talk show. And
Ryan M Paton (42:09.102)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Ryan M Paton (42:16.418)
Yeah.
Ali Moosa (42:19.256)
But little did I know how, but little did I know at the time of how the business actually works. Right? And then reality kind of sunk in and, you know, and of course, well, I’m sort of, well, I mean, I feel like I’m doing that now, actually.
Ryan M Paton (42:38.466)
You absolutely are doing that now. And the reality should sink in now that you’re doing this and that you have a show. And you do a great job with it. You have some great guests. And not only that, you have a passion for it. And I can see it to you every time I talk to you, every time I see you, you have a passion and you’re very talented. So I’m very happy for you. I really am. Keep it going.
Ali Moosa (42:45.632)
Yes.
Ali Moosa (43:01.643)
I’ll keep it going and I look forward to, and we’ll be back, let’s do an NHL season preview show. Let’s come back for a season preview show.
Ryan M Paton (43:09.102)
Let’s do it. I would be up for that again. The season ends the 17th. I believe the playoffs start on the 19th, which is the Saturday of April. So if you want to do something toward the end of the season, even on the 17th, 18th of April, we can do a, we knew a playoff preview for sure.
Ali Moosa (43:25.326)
Let’s do a playoff preview. you know what? Love to do a playoff preview. And love to do a beginning of the season preview as well with you. And another trade deadline show. That’s going to be what it is. And they can find you on YouTube at Pux and 7.
Ryan M Paton (43:32.618)
100%, 100%. Yep, let’s do it.
Ryan M Paton (43:40.396)
yeah youtube dot com at poxson seven and then yes serious x n h l network radio on every weekend and just doing films as well so yeah check me out there and it’s always been a blast doing this alley i appreciate it
Ali Moosa (43:52.46)
My pleasure, and you can find me, EasyplaceBroadcastMap.ca.
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