Episode 18 starts with Capitals play-by-play man John Walton and an ode to the Washington sports scene, which finally has something to get excited about. Then it’s: What now for the Penguins? Why Vegas is winning? And where the Sharks go from here? Plus, hockey licks, the Babcock-Matthews drama and your #Ask31 answers.
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2:20 John Walton talks about the flight home from Pittsburgh to Washington after the Capitals finally knocked off the Penguins. “It wasn’t the hooting and hollering you’d expect, but it was a release.”
11:30 Elliotte asks Walton if his “Good morning, good afternoon and goodnight” call would be the right one if the Capitals win the Stanley Cup.
19:11 Jeff asks Elliotte what would be more a more compelling Cup Final: George McPhee versus the Capitals or Filip Forsberg versus the Capitals?
27:30 The Pittsburgh Penguins are out and they have some decisions to make in the off-season around Phil Kessel, Kris Letang and Matt Murray.
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30:35 How have The Vegas Golden Knights been doing it all season? They subscribe to the theory that the best defence is a good offence and they roll all four lines.
32:17 What’s next for the San Jose Sharks? They have $20 million to spend this summer, but how will they use it? Is John Tavares in the mix? If he is, what does it mean for the futures of Joe Thornton and Evander Kane?
38:12 Brad Marchand isn’t playing anymore this season, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t making news. And Jeff and Elliotte differ a little with their takes. “He gives a licking, but is no longer ticking.”
44:38 In what has become a weekly report, the Carolina Hurricanes name Rod Brind’Amour as head coach and quietly announce Don Waddell as GM. How did hose two end up in their positions?
49:17 Speaking of weekly reports, This Week in Leafs Land has Mike Babcock meetin with Auston Matthews in Arizona. No one really knows what’s really going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs coach and franchise player, but as one GM told Elliotte: “If there is a problem, this is what they should do.”
55:30 The #Ask31 segment includes a discussion around the Buffalo Sabres and sheltering Rasmus Dahlin, the Winnipeg Jets as a desired destination for players, GMs managing up, cross-checking, and players doing more off the ice to benefit themselves.
