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00:00Well, if you're tuning in from somewhere in New York State, somewhere in Dan's territory because you are, you know,
00:07you're intrigued, this may or may not impress you or interest you.
00:10But I thought in the spirit of the 18 division winner parlays from last week and maybe reverse power rankings
00:25brought to you by Empire Electric, I would put to you the task, and I can, you know, help if
00:32you want, but I'm not sure I would want to overrule you on this, the 2026-27 Atlantic Division standings.
00:43Shouldn't that be really tough to get right?
00:46Yes.
00:47What do you think will be harder to get right, this or an eight-team NFL division winner?
00:57I think this.
00:59To get all the teams in the right order, all of them in the right order?
01:03Yeah, I mean, I just think that's, I mean, it's going to be so, probably very close at the top.
01:10There are no givens.
01:11It's going to be very close everywhere.
01:12It'll be close, you know, maybe they'll be, like there was this year, the three 100-point teams, although Boston
01:20almost made it four.
01:21They had 98 points, I think.
01:24And then there'll probably be three teams that are kind of 90 to 98, like in that range, 90 to
01:31100.
01:31I guess I don't need to cut it off at 98.
01:34And then a couple of teams just, like, will be gone.
01:38Really?
01:39Yeah.
01:40What is the...
01:41Or at least one, maybe.
01:42Maybe not two.
01:43What is the safest bet, team and slot, of them all?
01:48Well, I think I have a guess, but to me it seems a little bit not safe.
01:57I...
01:59My first instinct is to say Toronto last.
02:01That's what I thought you might say.
02:03But doesn't that seem risky?
02:05Like, how safe would that be?
02:08Last.
02:09Detroit.
02:11Boston.
02:12We talked about Boston like it was kind of a fluke.
02:15Yeah, maybe not.
02:16That wasn't sticky.
02:17Ottawa?
02:19I still believe in Ottawa.
02:21Okay.
02:21I definitely believe in Montreal.
02:24Toronto, I just don't know what they're going to do with their roster as currently constructed.
02:32They...
02:33There's a lot of writing.
02:34There has been for maybe a couple of years about needing...
02:38I mean, they need a lot of things.
02:40They need to overhaul their defense core.
02:43And they're not capable of really doing it.
02:46I don't think.
02:47Why?
02:48They don't have pieces to trade.
02:50And I don't think you can go into free agency and, you know, like, they're talking about
02:57trading Riley, who I get if you want to get a new number one defenseman, you should do
03:01that because, to me, for a team that's been the level of contender that they've been for
03:06the amount of time they've been, him as a number one has never really cut it to me.
03:11I just thought he...
03:12At least in the last few years, certainly.
03:15He's, to me, way past his prime.
03:18And...
03:19But their decor overall is just old and slow.
03:22And I don't know what they're going to do about that.
03:24Like, there's not...
03:25That's not a one-off season fix to me.
03:28So I think they're in real trouble there.
03:31You know, assuming they keep the peace with Matthews and, you know, keep going.
03:37We talked about Matthew Nyes yesterday and how it was weird to me that he was on the trade
03:42market in the spring, I kind of doubt that he will be now, but I guess he could be.
03:47Like, it depends on...
03:49An answer to why would you trade Matthew Nyes is what I just said about their decor.
03:54Like, we need to do something there.
03:56So maybe that's a part of that?
03:58I don't know.
03:59But...
03:59What about the first overall pick?
04:01I just don't think...
04:02I don't think it's...
04:04I don't expect Gavin McKenna to just show up and put up 60 points.
04:12Okay.
04:13I think he deserves to be one...
04:18Not unquestionably, there's a Swedish guy that people are still writing and talking about,
04:22but mostly it sounds like it's going to be McKenna.
04:24And I don't think he is...
04:26I think he's going to be a really nice top-line type player.
04:31I just don't think it's going to happen.
04:32He's not, to me, one of these guys that just shows up and is great.
04:38He's not a needle mover for next year.
04:41Like, I don't think he's the level of prospect Bedard was, even.
04:45And Bedard hasn't really blasted off.
04:48He's good and it's promising, but it's not like, you know, it's not Celebrini.
04:53Like, he's getting MVP votes and stuff.
04:56Even if he were, it would be hard to necessarily make the argument that that elevates the Leafs significantly.
05:03Right.
05:03And you're saying you don't think he will be.
05:05I think every other team in the league sitting here today, now we haven't gone through any of the off
05:11-season machinations yet.
05:12You know, the trades and the draft and free agency.
05:16I think Toronto looks like the most questionable team in the division right now.
05:20Okay.
05:21So, if I had to, on June 12th, pick the order of the division, they would be last for me.
05:27And you do.
05:29Right.
05:29That's my job right now.
05:30That's what you're doing right now, is doing that.
05:31I have to do that.
05:32Right.
05:33All right.
05:33So, I'm going to make this sort of a team exercise.
05:38But I'll go along with you a while.
05:39Okay.
05:40Toronto is eighth.
05:41All right.
05:42Boston did have 100 points.
05:43Oh, they did get to 100.
05:45Okay.
05:45Ottawa had 99.
05:47Okay.
05:47Wow.
05:47And finished fifth in the division and sixth in the East.
05:51Man, what a strong division that was.
05:53You've got to give Carolina, up 3-2 now in the final, credit for that Ottawa series.
06:00I think so.
06:01That's me saying I don't think I was wrong on Ottawa.
06:05Right.
06:06Like, just, I didn't.
06:07Well, me too.
06:08Yeah, I was talking Ottawa up big in the last month.
06:11We wanted to avoid them.
06:13Yeah.
06:13And I didn't pick Carolina in the pool, and I never had a chance to win once they got
06:19through the first round because of it.
06:21And Ottawa, I thought, if you're going to do that, then bet on Ottawa.
06:24And that didn't get anywhere.
06:26My concern, by the way, on the pool aspect of it was that even if they did win, I wasn't
06:31sure they would score enough.
06:32And that was kind of the Flyers in the end.
06:34I had the Flyers, too.
06:36But then they went into Carolina and didn't score at all.
06:39Montreal, and, you know, I also had Montreal, and they didn't score at all either against
06:43Carolina.
06:44Right.
06:45So, Vegas has been able to score.
06:46Even last night, they got a couple.
06:48Yeah.
06:48But I watched the middle of the game last night.
06:51I just loved the 3-1 goal, the Ajo goal last night.
06:55I thought it was so hot.
06:56Yeah, it was really nice.
06:57Yeah.
06:57And it really included an error.
07:00You know the play?
07:01Yeah.
07:01The pass comes from behind the net.
07:03The wing kind of just whiffs on it.
07:06But there's somebody at the point.
07:08Walker, yeah.
07:09Right to Ajo, skate, stick.
07:12It's Darlene against Montreal in Game 7, where he puts that puck before the goalie can get
07:17over.
07:18Like, that was just a super play.
07:19Well, you dipped in at a good time, because last night, look, every seven-game series,
07:27well, it doesn't have to have duds, but the first four games of the series have been some
07:32of the best Stanley Cup Finals hockey I can remember watching.
07:35It had been just drama, comebacks, pretty plays.
07:39Last night was just kind of like a, like, I watched the whole thing.
07:44That was a beautiful goal.
07:45Well, I'm not dinging anyone for the plays they made that resulted in goals, but it was
07:50just a, it was kind of a muddy game.
07:52Well, it was halfway through 1-1, and shots were maybe 12-10.
07:58So, when I turned it on, I didn't think I'd really missed that much.
08:02Right.
08:02Saw the 2-1 goal.
08:03I sort of had a thought on Seveshnikov scoring that goal, because they had just got done saying
08:09how he just can't get a bounce.
08:11And like, here he is, here comes the shot, and that one went in for him.
08:15And he gets a second one later, right?
08:17What's Conn Smythe look like, I wonder?
08:19We should talk to Sam about that.
08:20Stahl, Jordan Stahl is getting a lot of love today.
08:23When we talked about this the other day, we got a tweet, like, there's a path for Stahl.
08:29And I thought it made sense.
08:31And then he scores again.
08:33Yeah, it's five straight games.
08:34Well, every game of the final, he has scored a goal in.
08:37I'm going to need my guy, Stankhoven, to score two in the clincher, I think.
08:41Yes.
08:42To have a chance.
08:43I mean, Stahl, that was probably great odds.
08:45He's the captain, and he's old, and like, it's just, he's going to get.
08:49It's the era of Matthew Stafford and John Cooper.
08:53John Cooper.
08:54He's going to, yeah.
08:55Congratulations, by the way, to the Lightning for being one of the all-time great NHL teams.
09:00Yes.
09:00Hart, Vezina, Adams.
09:02MVP, Vezina winner, and wow, what a coaching job.
09:05What a coaching job.
09:07What a season.
09:08Who will forget it?
09:08Yep.
09:09A couple of first-team all-stars announced today, too.
09:12I mean, that falls in line, same two guys, the MVP and the goalie.
09:15Did you get Joe's question?
09:18I don't think I got Joe's.
09:20There are two other teams in NHL history.
09:23Oh, yeah.
09:24To have Hart, Vezina, Adams.
09:25I saw it.
09:26I don't have it memorized.
09:27If you know it, go right ahead.
09:28It's like historic seasons the team's had, both times.
09:33So, according to Joe, he put this to me, and I got the first one.
09:3977 Canadians that won, like, almost every game.
09:43Yep.
09:44LeFleur, Dryden, Bowman.
09:47And I'm like, all right, feeling good.
09:49I got it.
09:50There's one more.
09:51And he's like, it's kind of a trick question.
09:53Well, tell me.
09:54Kansas City Royals.
09:55The Kansas City Royals.
09:57Elway, Marino, Herzog.
10:00The 97 Sabres.
10:03Oh, wow.
10:04Hasek, Hasek, Nolan.
10:07Oh, okay.
10:08Yeah, same guy.
10:09Hart, Vezina, Jack Adams.
10:11Those are the only two other teams before Tampa to win all three.
10:16So, we're not done here.
10:18No, I know.
10:18We only listed one team.
10:21Toronto, this year's last place team, next year's last place team.
10:26Then what?
10:27Well, you mentioned Detroit, and, you know, they could do well in a Larkin trade.
10:34So, that's why I don't want to pin them below Toronto.
10:39But that is a huge variable, and for that reason, they're the team I would get to next for seventh.
10:45Like, is it okay that I'm going bottom to top?
10:48Empire Electric.
10:49That's what you wanted.
10:50Reverse power rankings are brought to you by your local neighborhood residential electrician.
10:54It totally works.
10:55So, I think I'll say Detroit.
10:58Okay.
10:59They've got this long streak now, it's at least ten years, yeah, of not being in.
11:07Their best player and captain wants to leave, and, you know, that could end up being good for them, but
11:15we'll see.
11:15There'll probably be futures in there that won't impact them this year, so we'll see how well they do with
11:21someone to step in
11:22and somewhat replace Dylan Larkin should they make that trade, but I think that that's just such a big question
11:30that I would say
11:31that doesn't go well enough, and they are seven.
11:34Six, Boston.
11:37Yes, I agree.
11:39This is totally on – you remember when we talked to Flutu Shinzawa, the beat writer for The Athletic, covers
11:45the Bruins,
11:45and I asked him, and I sort of loaded the question, too.
11:48It was a little bit, like, it was kind of a little jerky, I think.
11:51Like, is this real?
11:53You know, because I thought there was another step back.
11:55You're like, no, they got this and this and this, and, you know, that's why it'll – you know.
11:59And Higgins looks like an nice player, and that could have an impact.
12:02There are decent young players there, but I just don't – I don't believe in it.
12:08I just didn't – I didn't think they were that good this year, really, and so I could see a
12:13sixth-place finish for them.
12:16All right.
12:18Five?
12:21Who are some teams who are left?
12:23Tampa.
12:24Is there ever going to be a downturn?
12:28Not yet?
12:30I got – I –
12:34Ottawa, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa, Florida are the five teams we haven't slotted yet.
12:40Yeah.
12:40Next year's division standings.
12:44It is – who knows?
12:46While you're thinking, who would have predicted this year's division standings for this division?
12:52Right.
12:52No way.
12:53No way.
12:54Florida seventh isn't necessarily even the craziest.
13:00Toronto eighth might be crazier.
13:02Buffalo first is crazier still.
13:05Yeah.
13:05First, the most optimistic Sabres fan was not calling first place.
13:11No.
13:11No.
13:12They were calling wild card.
13:13We were even reluctant to do it when they looked provably good or great even.
13:17I decided I didn't want it.
13:19Right.
13:19I wanted it, but I just was like, I don't know, man.
13:21Eight points.
13:23Yeah, it's a lot of points.
13:24Tell me – you know, then there were games at hand, whatever.
13:26Anyway.
13:28Yeah, it's –
13:30Who's next?
13:31Start flipping coins.
13:32I don't know.
13:33I don't – I really don't know.
13:35Who will be the favorite?
13:36It won't be the Sabres.
13:37It'll be Tampa or Montreal.
13:39Tampa or Montreal, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Florida right there.
13:45I might even guess that they get the love of a favorite.
13:49The Sabres could be the fourth favorite.
13:51Yeah.
13:51They could.
13:52Easily.
13:55Will we be mad at that?
13:57I'm tempted – probably.
13:59Really?
13:59I'm tempted to end this exercise with Florida first.
14:03I think they'll – well, they've got a big question in goal.
14:07Yeah.
14:08I mean, you know, so there is that.
14:10I should take that into account.
14:11They're kind of old.
14:13Marchand.
14:14Kind of, yeah.
14:16Barkoff's old and coming off an injury.
14:19I mean, he's played already, so he's back.
14:21You know, he played in the World Championships.
14:23I just think they'll be back and rested, and I still feel like there's another strong season in there.
14:30But, thinking about the division, I wonder how much they'll want to pour into, you know, trying to have 110
14:39points.
14:40You know?
14:40They might be a team that's old enough to be like, you know, as long as we get to, like,
14:45100 points, we're fine.
14:46Now, with – you know what?
14:48I was just thinking when you said that, now that same listener is like, you know what?
14:52Dan Leberfeld is right.
14:53This is the best sports talk show in New York State.
14:58Who is –
14:59Montreal, Tampa, Buffalo, Ottawa.
15:01Let's put Ottawa fifth.
15:02Okay.
15:03Sure.
15:04What's their claim to hire?
15:08They don't have one.
15:09They have good Fenwick.
15:1099 points.
15:11I mean, I liked them.
15:13Travis liked them.
15:15Yeah, we liked them.
15:15They were good.
15:16They were good.
15:17They could have.
15:18Well, you know what?
15:19No.
15:20I was going to say they could have won the first round.
15:22No, they really could not have won the first round.
15:24The power play went completely – disappeared.
15:28Carolina did the same thing they're doing to everybody else, although Vegas is getting through more often.
15:33But just – you can't get through.
15:34So, it's like calling us.
15:37Ottawa fifth.
15:39Then –
15:40Ugh.
15:41All right.
15:41I'm going to – I'm going to – I'm going to back way away from Florida.
15:46Winning and say they're fourth.
15:48Good.
15:49Because of this point about, like, they might just sort of not see the value in killing themselves from October
15:57through April.
15:58Okay.
15:58So, now our top three are the same top three, and the odds of that happening, I bet, are less
16:04than 20%.
16:05No matter what the order is.
16:07Right?
16:08If you could bet, will the same three teams at the top of this division this year be the same
16:14three teams next year?
16:15No.
16:15No.
16:16So, that's the point of the thought – the exercise here is, like, look how many options – many outcomes
16:24are possible.
16:28So, do you want to put the Sabres third?
16:30Yes.
16:32I'll put them third, I'll put Tampa second, and I'll put Montreal first.
16:36Like, that's how I'm feeling right now.
16:38I don't want Montreal first.
16:40Okay.
16:41Well, it is a team effort, so –
16:42Who's their goalie?
16:43The guy that didn't play at all?
16:45Probably.
16:46I mean, Dobish will be, you know, but I –
16:51He'll be the opening night starter.
16:52Yes.
16:53All-rookie team.
16:54Right.
16:54But, all right, this isn't like football, but you put it on the board.
16:59By the playoffs next year, Fowler will be their guy.
17:04Canada, down in World Cup.
17:07First half, 21st minute, Bosnia and Herzegovina scores the first goal in this game.
17:13In Toronto.
17:15So, 1-0.
17:16All right, good for me.
17:18Yeah, you have –
17:18We all have everybody.
17:19I have them in another pool.
17:21Yeah, I only have two pools, so I've got – but I've got – so I've got six teams.
17:24That's really –
17:25Look at what a life you're living.
17:26And none of them are the same.
17:27I've only got two pools for the World Cup.
17:31It's only two, everybody.
17:33Don't judge me.
17:35Sam Paniatovich coming up.
17:36He's got a little action on World Cup, he told me.
17:38We'll talk to him.
17:40Then at four, it'll be Marty Baran today.
17:45I think this is a lot to ask of a guest.
17:48Go ahead and do this.
17:49One to eight.
17:50Oh, I don't want to throw this at Marty.
17:52It's like, why did I agree to this?
17:54He and Brian will do that on their own show.
17:56He might be watching the soccer game.
17:58I hope he is.
17:59I hope he is too, but –