Tara Slone
Appearances
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Well, I live a little bit outside downtown, but I understand that the streets were pretty packed in spite of a lot of rain last night. So this is a city that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. This is a country that has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. So fans here are really hungry. And like you said, the Leafs have this kind of playoff curse that they tend to get in their own way about it.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
And then fans are really quick to also jump on that. So It almost happened. But I think last night they looked it was very decisive and it bodes well for the next round, which is going to be a challenge for sure.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Absolutely. I mean, it was a great season for Canada. The Four Nations victory also buoyed the country.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Yeah, I mean, so you get the sense. Hockey is a great big deal everywhere here. It doesn't matter, you know, walk down the street if there's a Stanley Cup playoff game on. there's going to be noise. So it's, it's everywhere. It's definitely, you know, hockey is, is it for us unlike South of the border, at least not everywhere.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
So yeah, I think there is some optimism, but also, you know, the same, same fears, right. That, that will make it to the finish line, but won't quite get over it. So I think there's reason to be optimistic, but you know, a couple of teams are making me nervous. So yeah, I think Winnipeg is also falling for that curse, the Hellebuck curse, too.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
So we're a little worried about them, but it can happen.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
I don't think we're that protective of the Stanley Cup. Listen, I think it's been in much more disgusting places. So at least it had a little saline wash.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Exactly.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Well, I think that they were really calling upon the team to go beyond their superstars, and I think we started to see that this is a team with a lot of depth. So we know that scoring is not going to be the issue for them. Ekholm will still be out for the second round, so that is definitely the nerves lie in defense and in goaltending.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
But as long as the superstars can keep scoring and there's some depth scoring going, And I think I think they can really I think they're favored like third in terms of taking the Stanley Cup at this point. So I think there is a lot of faith in this team.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Oh, I think they're going to get better next year, but I think it was really fun to watch. Obviously, when a team loses a playoff series, it doesn't feel good, and it's no consolation to say, but this was so promising. But it is. I mean, they're such a young team. This is where I would love to see the San Jose Sharks win. next year or the year after.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
But yeah, this is a team that absolutely, I think they surprised everybody in such a pleasant way. And I think next year could be really exciting for them.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
He is as reported. Absolutely. I mean, he was from the first time he stepped on the ice with the San Jose Sharks. You know, what's funny for me, kind of seeing him up close, you know, he and Will Smith are attached at the hip. They're kids, you know, like you just I see them playing soccer together outside the locker room and they're giggling, right? They're children, right?
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Um, but when it comes to hockey and the guy hates to lose, um, he has so much hockey. His IQ is so intensely high. Um, he's got such an aptitude for, for learning and he's a natural leader. I mean, he's not going to be the captain next year. I think he's not quite ready for that just in terms of his Asian experience, but he could be, and he is a leader on and off the ice.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Um, he learns from his mistakes and, um, Man, he is really good.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Yeah, I mean, I have to think so. You know, your faith has to be in your GM. And Mike Greer seems to be really building this team from the ground up. I think that this is a long-term goal. I mean, I think we, of course, want to see them make the playoffs next year. But when you look at, first of all, the Barracuda have moved on to the second round of the playoffs. So there's a lot of...
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
great players in that pipeline, but coming up from the OHL and from overseas. So I just, of course, like we all want immediate results. And I think what Mike Greer did at the trade deadline showed that they are committed to the long game. For sure, they could have kind of stacked the team and made them more viable sooner. But I don't think that's the idea.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
The idea is to get a Stanley Cup championship team.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
You are asking the wrong person. I don't know. I mean, they looked so strong this year. I think if there was a year, it could have been this one. So honestly, I don't know.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
But this is another one of those like I don't I don't want to be all woo woo, but they're cursed, you know, so they're cursed against this team. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know what I don't know what their plans are. They also have some young talent, but yeah, things are going to have to look a little different next year, I think.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Yeah, I agree. I mean, there's so much momentum behind the Florida Panthers. And if you've watched any of their games this year, I mean, that's a really intense, gritty team. So I wouldn't put anything past them. And they are favored at this point to take the Stanley Cup home again. I mean, I guess it's just it was a numbers game. You know, Tampa finished higher in the standings.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
They've got Vasilevsky. They got Kucherov. So maybe they just sort of look a little bit better on paper. And obviously they've had more, you know, two back to back Stanley Cups. So but no, I wouldn't have bet against the Florida Panthers. Not for a second.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
I mean, yes, we knew Mike Sullivan was not going to be unemployed for very long. Listen, his time had run out in Pittsburgh, but it didn't say anything about him as a coach. It's just, you know, that room was tired, I guess. I think it's a great move. I think he's certainly among the best coaches in the game. So good on them. They got the money, honey. They're going to get the guy.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
The Hockey Show: The Gentlemen's Sweep (feat. Eetu Luostarinen)
Thanks, guys.