The Bagchucker Podcast

Episode 8: Team Bonding on the Road, from slumps to triumphs and shout out to Shea Weber and David Poile HOF

cmace30@hotmail.com

What happens when a player like Dante Fabbro, known for his resilience, gets a fresh start with a new team? Join us as we unravel the emotional whirlwind of life in the NHL, sharing insights from Andrew Brunette on regaining confidence after a slump, and the personal and team dynamics that influence both victories and losses. We ponder the mental strategies athletes use to overcome performance challenges, especially during those daunting road games.

Unlock the secrets of mental resilience as we discuss how athletes navigate slumps, focusing on the small steps that rebuild their confidence. From goalies zeroing in on one save at a time to the collective power of teamwork, learn how players support each other despite contract pressures and personal concerns. We examine the unique dynamic of team bonding on the road versus the pressure cooker of home games, showcasing how a unified team can simplify strategies and achieve success.

Then, we journey down memory lane to celebrate the legacy of Shea Weber and the immense contributions of David Poyle. Reminisce about Weber’s leadership and humor, along with Poyle’s lasting impact on hockey’s history. Finally, we explore practical advice tailored for men, sharing reflections and encouraging listener feedback to shape future discussions. Tune in for a heartfelt, insightful episode that honors the past and looks forward to the future.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Bag Chucker podcast where we break down life on the road in the NHL.

Speaker 2:

We're your hosts, Chris Mason and Hal Gill, aka Mason Skilzy, former NHL players, current broadcasters for the Nashville Predators. Lifelong Bag Chuckers, dads, brothers and sons We've seen it all, from the bus rides to the big leagues.

Speaker 1:

Each week we'll dive into what's going on around the league. We'll give you travel tips, places to go, things to do and stories from years of living out of a suitcase.

Speaker 2:

What do you say? Mace Lobby in 10.

Speaker 1:

Just chuck your bags and let's go.

Speaker 2:

Hey, welcome to Bag Tracking Pod, episode 8. I am Hal Gills Gillsy. I'm here with C Mace. Chris Mace Mace. How's it going? Welcome to Denver.

Speaker 1:

Colorado it's been. Yeah, exactly right, it's been. Feels like the first month's been like really home heavy, and then when there was road games, the evil ESPN would take our games and rob us of glorious road trips. So good to get on the road bud.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and so, for those that don't know, I do the radio and the TV as well. But the radio we travel for everything, even when ESPN or TNT does it. So I've been on the road. I'm telling you, the road is not the same without you, bud.

Speaker 1:

Well, I love your. You always say radio never sleeps, and that's true. It's the hardest working, the most hours put in and a lot of respect to radio.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, thanks. Thanks, mace. I appreciate you saying that, coming from your high tower just looking down. So we are in Denver. We just got some news that Dante Fabbro was put through. Waivers got picked up by Columbus. I want to get your thoughts on that and see what you think of that. The Preds letting go.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I'm obviously going to miss Fab. I thought he's just a great person. You know, I'll never forget when he first got he came up from college and one of the first things that it was his first road trip and I remember him unloading, helping the bus driver unload the bags for everybody. I just thought, you know, it just kind of speaks to the character of a person that he was. But I'm happy for him.

Speaker 1:

I think it's honestly the best thing that could happen in his career right now. He's going to get a fresh start, start just kind of go somewhere new where he's wanted. He said that in his media that he feels, you know, it feels good to be wanted and it just it never really materialized. And I felt bad for him because, you know, he was a solid defenseman and just never really, for whatever reason, and it didn't seem to matter what coach it was, was never a guy that had to be in the lineup and he was kind of sometimes the easy guy to take out. Unfortunately, that's the way hockey goes. But now he gets a fresh start, so I think it'll be awesome for him.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a good change for him, for sure. I just think it's tough mentally when you're okay, you're playing well, but we have to get this guy in or we have to put, and I feel like he was always on the cusp and coaches liked him, wanted him to get out there, but then he never got that commitment. I don't think. So hopefully he can go to Columbus, play well and find his game because, like you said, I appreciate being around him. Good BU kid Came in, played great in the playoffs and he played pretty well for the Preds in the playoffs that first year he was thrown to the Wolves and I thought he played well. So hopefully good stuff going down the road. But I mean it all comes down to losing. If you lose guys, if you're losing games and the Preds have not been winning, it's been tough. You know the mental side. We have to get into that. But certainly for Fabs it's tough when you're not in a lineup and your team isn't winning.

Speaker 1:

That's really yeah, and I think he's a guy that's he's really hard on himself and I think you know it's hard to have. I think that's your point is the confidence is such a big factor in success and when you lose it and we were even talking about that with uh, with andrew burnett, who's obviously played, you know, well over a thousand games, been around the league and he's very I think he's a very good observation of the human side, his when he explained, he broke down, frustration. Uh, you know, last week I thought that was really, you know, really deep and detailed and a really good explanation of what frustration does and you and I were talking about, like, what is confidence? And when you lose it, how do you get it back? Even like the best players in the world, if they lose confidence, you're not the same player. How do you? How do you get that back?

Speaker 2:

That's the hard part you need. You need something to go right for you. I think the ultimate, the bottom line is you gotta, you gotta, work hard to get out of it. That's hard work. What is coffee? But how do you do that? And just like backtracking a little bit, I want people to understand that when you go through a losing streak and we all have it takes a toll on your personal life. You have friction in the locker room, your beer after the game doesn't taste as good. You wake up in the morning and your coffee is sour like everything. It weighs on you and it's it's not just. You know you, yeah, you say okay, you guys have the best job in the world. You get to play hockey well. Yeah, that's true, but it's never the same. When you're winning, everything is the best. When you're losing, it feels like it takes a toll on your whole life.

Speaker 1:

And when I think about confidence, like what is it like? Obviously you feel good, you know you. To me it's like a belief. You believe in yourself, you don't doubt when you don't have confidence, I think that that voice there's. You know the two voices, or however many you know each person has in their head, but there's that one that's always saying uh, I don't know if I hope I play good tonight, I, I don't know if I'm going to play good, I hope I make the first save or I don't let it in a goal in the first period. For me, that's what it was. I was like I hope I you're just like.

Speaker 1:

You're inviting, you know, bad things to happen by your self-talk and it's so hard, you know, usually we talked, we've had sports psychologists and they tell you to say and this is hard to do, and even sometimes you do it, you have to do it 10 times they tell you to mentally tell yourself to stop thinking that when you have a bad thought, instantly tell yourself to stop thinking that. But then, sure enough, you say don't.

Speaker 2:

Hey, mace don't think that a goal in the first period. You're the right fielder in the Adam Sandler scale Exactly.

Speaker 2:

Please, please, don't hit it to me. Oh God, okay, that one went to second base, okay, good, okay, okay, please, please don't let it hit it to me. Yeah, that's. And you know, as we've been watching the Preds losing early leads, like going down two goals, it seems like in every game, and you can see that, oh, they give up that first goal. Here we go again. As opposed to when you're on a heater and you've won eight games, it doesn't affect this game at all, it should be the same story. But when you're on a heater, you give up that first goal and you're like don't worry about it, guys, we're winners, it's going to work out, we're going to win right, and you have that confidence and you go out and you make it happen.

Speaker 2:

And it's a tough cycle to get out of. But I think the bigger question is how do you handle that? Off time, you know you go to the rink, you work out. Everyone wants to be the first one on the ice because you want to show that you're working your butt off to get out of this losing streak. But when you get away from the rink, I want to pick your brain on what would you do? Say you're slumping, you're not playing well. What did you do to get away from it? Because I went through. I did it all, man. I went through the visualization, the yoga, breathing. I had worry stones that I would rub. You know, I went through it all. So I want to get your opinion as a goalie. It's a lot harder.

Speaker 1:

Confidence is king and I did the same thing. I would try. All right, well, I'm not wearing that tie again. And you know, we're changing the shave, your facial hair a different way. Oh, I'm going to change my sticks and all this kind of stuff.

Speaker 1:

But for me, you know, it boils down to when you can actually get yourself and this was for me, when I could actually get myself to just don't worry about the results, don't you know, guess what's going to happen or hope that, you know, something good happens when I could literally just focus on okay, I'm going to focus on the puck. You know, as a goaltender, it's a different mindset and that's what I'll be interested to hear you, because I can't go out and hit someone, I can't go initiate anything. I can initiate my thoughts and the play has to come to me. When I struggled, I would always be like, oh, I want to work so hardaggressive, and that's what I think you saw with the guys. It's not because they're not trying. These guys, this is one of the hardest working teams that we've covered.

Speaker 1:

I think with the Preds they almost try too hard Paralyzes you, they're indecision, they're self-doubting you what's going on in your mind. But when I could quiet it down and just say, hey, just just focus on the puck, just make one save. Okay, make one save, all right. I mean, just make the next play, make the next save, when you can do that.

Speaker 1:

And that that is a bit that was the biggest challenge for me when I was struggling. And then you, you, you get, you build small victories, your small victories, and then you know, eventually you got to do it over and over again and put a couple games together by the time you feel like, all right, well, I'm back, I'm back, my mind's right, we're playing good. But it's so hard when you're in that spiral because that voice telling you that the self-doubt is so powerful, but it's almost. You have to hit the rock bottom, I guess, or just give in to it in a way. And then if I could get my focus down to a singular thought just worry about the puck, make the first save that then I would find I'd get my start get myself out of it.

Speaker 2:

What about baby steps, baby steps to winning? Yeah, I feel like and this is interesting because obviously not a goal scorer but I feel like when goal scorers go in droughts, you can work. Hey, everything I did was hard work. If I was not playing well, I could work my butt off, I could block a shot, like a little more fearless, going into the corner, like take a hit, whatever it is, I would battle and work my way out of it. As a goal scorer. That's a hard thing to do, to work out of, like you can't want to score goals more. And I will say, not being a goal scorer, I'd always shoot on net, like from the point, like let's get it through a screen, let's get it off the pads, let's leave a rebound, keep it away from his glove. But then the second I do one of those things and say one floated in and went in from the point. Then my next shift I was like I got to pick a corner, I'm feeling it now your mind plays tricks on you. And then, all of a sudden, you're like I have the confidence of a goal scorer right now, just because I scored one goal and I did the same thing 100 times before that it didn't go in, but that one time it went in. Now I feel like I'm a goal scorer. Now I feel like everything I shoot is going to go in the net and it just messes with your mind.

Speaker 2:

I think the thing you said is singular. Focus is be conscious of what your, what your brain is telling you like, process it. You know, like, okay, my brain is telling me I'm a goal scorer. Now I'm not. Just keep doing the things I did. The reason I scored a goal is because I was doing the right things, yeah, and it went in. And so then you reset that and when your mind says, takes you the other way and says you're awful, it's going to be another one of those nights you got to, you got to wash that away. And it's hard to do that. Easier said than done. But it's one of the hardest things I think you have to deal with because, as a team, if you're struggling, as a player, if you're struggling, you a lot of times your teammates can pull you out. Yep, right, if, if you're struggling as a player, if you're struggling a lot of times, your teammates, can

Speaker 2:

pull you out. Yep, right, if you're a team struggling, you have to figure it out with your team. And then you also have it in the back of your head like, okay, my team needs to win for me to have success. And if we don't win, things are going to change. Am I going to get traded, you know, as a contract year? I'm probably one of the first guys on the chopping block, right. Or if I have a long-term deal, am I looking at a guy who has a long-term deal and saying, oh, he doesn't care, he's here forever, he's just counting his paycheck. And so then it messes with your mental relationships with your teammates, and I think that's when it goes to the next level, and there's nothing worse than losing one of your best buddies because you couldn't get a win. Yeah, that's a great point. And you go through all that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah that's a great point because I really think that as a group it's even more, and that's such a contagious feeling. Everybody's overthinking. You know some guys take it home with them, some don't. And when you're talking about contracts, you know, let's say, your, your deal's expiring this year, like well, and Trotsky is saying, well, you know, if they don't turn things around, you know we're going to have to. You know the guy. You're thinking, oh, my god, I love it here. You know we were so good last year and what's going on.

Speaker 1:

And then it affects everything. It affects your. You know your home life and the rink it's just funny and you said it right off the top winning and you never, you don't ever think. When you're winning and you're playing well as a team, it's that's. You don't care, you don't even have to think, you just go out and play and you have none of those outside pressures. The voices in your head are quiet and even if you don't play a good game and you find a way to win well, that's the group playing well. And the next game you go out and you play well. I'm fine, I got this, I'll just go play well the next game. And you do. And it's such a powerful thing.

Speaker 2:

It's crazy how powerful the mind is in sports. The psychology of it's just fascinating, yeah, and I think it's a struggle for everyone in a different way. But the bottom line is you've got to find out what works for you and what gets you through those, and you know it's different for everyone. But hey, the Preds were losing, they were at home for a long time. We're finally on the road for an extended road trip. So we start off Colorado, edmonton and Calgary in a back-to-back Vancouver and Seattle.

Speaker 2:

This is, you know, the first big road trip of the season and the boys need it more than anyone. So I want to kind of break down what is the road mindset, because we talk about it. Hey, it's been a long time at home. Boys need to get on the road and figure it out and so, obviously, hockey wise, you get the last change at home, so you get to the. You can. It's a little easier to do the line matchup and of course the crowd is huge. You know you have your crowd behind you, but I want to go through everything else. You know that's the given stuff, but the boys have been talking about playing a simple road game.

Speaker 1:

So simplify what does that mean? I think the biggest thing too, and everyone's like oh yeah, you know you get to go away and get away from all your responsibilities, the kids and everything. But you know and it's true to some extent because, especially when you're struggling and they were home for a lot this is the first real road trip other than the back to back that they've had. And I'm thinking more in terms of being able to build relationships with your teammates, especially when you have new guys.

Speaker 1:

When you're at home, you know it's not like guys go and hang out all the time Maybe some of the younger guys do and that but you don't really get the older guys, don't get to know the younger guys. You have Jonathan, marshall, brady, shea, all these Stamkos. They have families. You're going to go home, hang with the family. You just see people around the rink. So you don't really get the opportunity to go have a beer, go have a coffee, to go have a beer, go have a coffee, go have a nice dinner, sit down, you know, bust each other's chops, like really get to know somebody and the impact of that. I think the uh, the big thing is that uh, there's a road right there.

Speaker 1:

There's the road right there.

Speaker 2:

No, I'm here, I'm okay.

Speaker 1:

We're on the road. That stuff happens. She's coming in the clean room, no, but I'm all set.

Speaker 2:

No, bro, no, pablo Espanol. Yeah, I'm all set.

Speaker 1:

No, thank you, there you go. Good and gestures. Sorry, no, that's good.

Speaker 2:

No, is that the weirdest thing? Yeah, we can't cut this out because I need to ask. I want to know what the people think I'm in here. She knocked and walked in and brought her a little cart ready to clean. I like I'm here.

Speaker 1:

I'm sitting right here well, yeah, six foot, all six foot india she got to clean around my feet. You're gonna get the vacuum it's dedication, though she's just trying to do her job.

Speaker 2:

No, no, it's okay, it's okay and then she spoke to the spanish.

Speaker 1:

To me, I don't well, I know I, I do want to learn that language actually no, baxter, you ate a whole wheel of cheese. I'm not even mad.

Speaker 2:

All right, sorry, sorry, sorry yeah.

Speaker 1:

No, I'll just wrap up my point.

Speaker 1:

But you know, one of the most important things and I think it translates to the on the ice and I know you'll agree with this, because you do that a lot with our broadcast about bringing people together is that when you get to know somebody and you're emotionally invested in you know, your friendship, teammate, their life, and you really get to know them on a personal level level.

Speaker 1:

You're willing to go out there and, let's say, you're not feeling great. You know, that particular night you look at the guy that you know, the buddy that you just you know, you have a, a bond with, and you're like you know what, I'm gonna go out there and I'm to stick my head in front of a shot for him, you know, for my teammates, and then you're going to see him go and do the same thing for all the rest of the guys that you know he's getting to know and you kind of develop those relationships and have personal conversations and obviously you know you begin to bond and it really translates and I think that's a really important thing for a team to be able to do, especially when you haven't a lot of change in the off season. So now these guys will get a chance to do that, and it's something that who knows if it's going to pay off right away, but it will down the road for sure.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think you, you need to battle, and everyone uses the word greasy, greasy road when, like you, you gotta, you gotta battle, you gotta find a greasy one. They're here here, she's here, oh yeah, she's. So mace is uh going to take care of the the room cleaning housekeeping. Housekeeping is there.

Speaker 1:

they're fluffing his pillow right now oh, she just, yeah, I just she gave me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I want all that stuff too.

Speaker 1:

Well, I just wanted to get her before she came all the way in, but no.

Speaker 2:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

All right, so I I ended with the, the building relationships and the dinner.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

So I'll just cut all this out.

Speaker 2:

So, yeah, we'll cut out all this. So, after our interruption with the housekeeping, we are back. We are back talking, uh. But I I think the the road mindset you said the team bonding, the trust in your teammates. I also think there's a lot more time to battle it out. I mean, yeah, you love your brothers and your teammates, but there's's also times where you, you know like you get the frustration out. You know you go have a beer with a buddy and you're like, hey, you didn't block that shot. Like you got to block that shot. You your accountability when you get to talking to someone and you get to know them and then you develop that trust that way. So it's not just these are all my best friends, it's like this guy I got to prove, I got to show him that I'm going to battle for him, even though I he's not my favorite person. You got to find a way to make it work.

Speaker 2:

But I think the I I talked about simplifying the game. It's it's a lot easier on the road to simplify your game. You go out there. You know there's less pressure for the superstars to try to score goals to get the home crowd going. You can go out there, dump it in, just you know, make the hard play. You don't have to make a fancy play through the neutral zone, you just get it in. Let's work our 200-foot game. Let's forecheck hard and battle, simplify our game.

Speaker 2:

And then, okay, now you're looking at what do we always say Two to two going into a third period on the road, no better place to be, whereas at home, two to two guys, we got to win, we're at home. There's a different mentality. We always say that in the locker room right, no better place to be than tie game. Going into the third on the road, let's go get it, let's buckle it down. And you go out there and you grind it out and you're like, okay, we got a tie. You know that mentality, like let's fight for that tie, let's fight for that. One point and I think that's the biggest thing between the road is having that mindset. And so I think the Preds going back to the Preds, they need to find it. And so I think the Preds going back to the Preds, they need to find it. They need to find that simple. They had a good game to wrap up a road trip.

Speaker 2:

How good did that feel to get on the bus and the plane the next day after a win a shutout win at home. Now they're on the road.

Speaker 1:

You can see guys just, and to your point, they kind of did because of the situation they're in, with all the losing, they kind of did play a road game. It was in between that, the two game, the two road games you go to. You go home for one against utah and then you're back on the road now for for five games. So that was, that was really big and the way that they did it. But you're right and you know, a lot of times at home you you have a good game, have a shitty game, whatever the case may be, and you're at home you're like oh, I gotta. You know I got the kids and what are we going to do? We're going to go for dinner, get a babysitter, we got family in town, all this kind of stuff. You got all that other stuff.

Speaker 1:

Now it's just like you get to be with the guy. You can talk it out after the game, when you go back to the hotel for a meal or you're on the plane the next day and you really get. Your only thing you're focused on is for building a team, and now these guys get a chance to do it. So it's a good timing for it. I guess A little late, but they're on the road now, so it's a good thing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah a tough scheduling.

Speaker 2:

I think, because I think you need a good road trip, Maybe not 12 days, five games, but I think you need at least a three or four gamer to kind of get into the mix and get into a rhythm and realize what's distractions and what's not, Because a lot of times you just jump into the season and you don't realize that there's distractions. It's just normal life and you get into it and then you get on the road and you go oh whoa, I guess I did have a lot of distractions.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Get the honeycomb and stuff.

Speaker 1:

Well, you just run. Yeah, it's just a different mind. You don't have to think about anything else. And again, if you're winning and you're losing, it just it amplifies everything and and that's when you kind of. That's why people say you need to, you, we need a road trip, we got to get out of town, we. And that's the reason why is because they just just focus on hockey. Let's, let's bond as a team, let's get this hash it out. Like you said, if we got some things you know people aren't pulling their weight we can get it figure it out on the road and in the long run, it's going to be a really good thing, I think, for a team that's got a lot of turnover, a lot of new big voices in the locker room, and that's difficult on both sides for the current leadership and the new guys that were really big-time leaders in their locker rooms before trying to find their spot. It takes a while.

Speaker 2:

It does, it does. Hopefully it turns quick and the boys figure it out quick and start to stack up some wins. That would be nice. Anything you're looking forward to on this? Well, I get to go back home. I mean, we had Sunday football in Colorado, got in for the late games, which was nice, and then we're heading back to God's country.

Speaker 1:

Well, I'm looking forward to going back. Actually, the weather's really nice right now too. It's the perfect like fall, pre-winter, where it's not too cold. But I always like going back home to Western Canada. I'm going to rip up and see my mom and dad, which will be great. Mom's had a little bit of health problems here lately. She's on the up and up. Mom's had a little bit of health problems here lately. She's on the up and up, so that'll be nice. Brought the pickleball paddle in hopes that maybe we find a game somewhere along the way. But you know, I was looking forward to the road too, because, as we mentioned, I thought we haven't traveled. But I just love getting back out and then you can do some, you know, fun activities and we can bond too. So all good.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, edmonton has the. Of course you said we've got to get a pickleball game in at some point, but also has the gaming. Oh, I forgot about that place. There's. There's a lot of gaming there. There's the shuffleboard, basketball, a skeeball a table darts duck hunter.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, oh yeah, we had it all. That's a good place.

Speaker 2:

That's a big one Speaking of, we didn't say anything. Mr Buck Hunter himself is going to the Hall of Fame. Shea Weber, an addict. He likes his video games.

Speaker 1:

He loves games.

Speaker 2:

He just loves it. It's complete vidiot. He just loves it. What do you think of the big man going to the?

Speaker 1:

hockey game. Ah shit, man, you play with people and you know Shea well also, but there's certain people that there's just something different about them, just their dedication. I was his first roommate. Trotsy put webs with me, so we really got to know each other. And, speaking of that, we used to bring our little PlayStation on the road and we'd play in the room sometimes. Yeah, those PSPs we had like 12 guys that play on the plane. So, yeah, we were definitely the vidiots.

Speaker 1:

But when something like that happens, you do, I think, and the older we get too, I find myself reflecting back on the journey. And you see Shea, who I remember. The first time I ever saw him in training camp and I called my best friend after because he was on my team in training camp I'm like, holy shit, I'm like you got to remember this name Shea Weber. I'm like he's going to be something special. He just has a presence about him. He was so humble, respectful, hardworking, just all the things that you want in a player and a leader.

Speaker 1:

And then when he got on the ice, he was a complete savage. You know the way that he worked in the gym. You know he was kind of a I'd say thinner back then. Obviously he's a young kid coming in. He started in milwaukee but you saw him later in his career um, not quite the end, but he was an absolute monster. He was a freak of nature. He put in so much work and he was just the ultimate, pro ultimate, alpha leader, good at everything. And obviously the success he had other than the Stanley Cup, he won everything else Olympic, gold medal, world championship, junior he won it all. He was a special player, rare breed of a human being.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, well, for a huge man. As a defense, when I looked at his feet, he's a he's a massive man and his feet were so quick Like he could get there and he could get there. And usually he was on the on the edge of violence every time he went there. So a lot of fun to watch. I will say, well, you got to see his slap shot. I mean he's got an absolute cannon, but I don't think he ever laid off a shot. Do you ever remember him just like floating one in there? Like I don't think I've ever seen him float a shot in. It's always violent, hard.

Speaker 1:

And everyone knew it, and everyone knew it, everyone knew it. So if you were going to stand in front of that, whether you're a goalie or whether you're a defenseman, if you're a few feet back, like I don't know what the heck you're thinking as a forward or defenseman, because it'll, it'll like I could have all the best equipment in the league and it'll hit square on a good spot and it just like penetrates your gear and your, your shoulder, will will go it. Just it was again. That was different. I mean, you know a lot of other guys can shoot the puck, you know, maybe not quite that hard, but there were a few guys, but his just it was violent and I've never yeah, it was he played that way though, but he was. That was something special, for sure.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, he. But I remember getting traded toashville. I come in and I go out and and he is ripping bombs on pecorine and that was like, oh my, this he pecs love that rip. And so I get up there and and pecs you know I have a hard shot, I had a hard shot and and pecs is like glove, saving every one of them. Even I'd go low blocker and he'd roll his glove over and and snag it. And then I'd be like god, like I can't even affect this guy.

Speaker 1:

And then, as soon as webs would tee up, I'd see pecs like get ready, like you're gonna lock down ready position, because he knew it was coming and it was like it, just so fun to watch, but uh, so happy I just want to make one more comment on weber because uh, yeah, a lot of people you know he was when he, I remember, when he became captain and he was he's very, he want whatever he does, he wants to be the best at it. And I remember him asking, like to a bunch of guys like what do I do? And you know how do I, what do I say? And you know you feel that pressure a little bit and you know everyone's like hey, just go be yourself. I mean, you know, you know that.

Speaker 1:

And so as a captain, I think when he addressed the media, a lot of people would say he's very stoic, very quiet man. A few words. He had a certain perception that he wanted to give off being the captain and so I don't think people realized how funny of a guy he was, how much fun. You never got to see that and that's fine and that's the way he wanted it. But I will say he is one of the funniest guys around. He's got such a great sense of humor, loves to have fun, loves to hang out with the boys, loves sports, love game, likes being an idiot dancing around. Like you know, people never see that and uh, that was such a big part of his personality that I just love so much is he would make fun of himself and do stupid things and you know, I wish people had got to see more of that of him. But I'm glad that I did and we did, because you know it's not something people would think of.

Speaker 2:

Well, he used to on the bench during games he'd go, oh, look at those hips. Like someone would make a move, and then he'd be oh, way to go, baby girl. You know like he'd say just funny things and then he'd jump over like a savage, like you talked about. It was like wait, who are you, you know. And the other thing I used to love is when at the end of practice it's still one of my favorite things and I laugh every time. I think about it. Every time, you know, we'd have all the circle shooting and guys would just be shooting at the end of practice and he'd yell out, oh, nhl shot. And then he'd be like oh, varsity B team shot. And then he'd oh, jv, like community college shot. Oh, ooh, NCAA. You know like he'd just throw ooh, that one looks like a Pee Wee, aaa, you know for.

Speaker 2:

Manitoba, like he does so random things making fun of guys' shots or tipping their hats Clever humor. So I just yeah, really clever, a great personality that a lot of people didn't get to see. So also, just quickly, we'll wrap it up, because it is game day here in Denver and I know you have a lot of research to get to. I know everything already.

Speaker 1:

I just let Willie do that. I piggyback off him and Jacob on your way.

Speaker 2:

They do know everything. But also in the Hall of Fame as a builder our own David Poyle going in. I mean what a career. What can you say about that? What a career, like we talked about this and everyone in Nashville has. I mean, every time we go to the rink I feel like there's another honor for David Poyle. But certainly going in the Hall of Fame as a builder is pretty awesome, yeah and I will say that I'll be quick on david poyle.

Speaker 1:

He's uh incredible what he's done and I don't know if I've ever met anybody who loves and respects the game and the history of the game more than him. Obviously his father, it was a big influence on him. Uh, remember we saw me at his father's uh hall of fame jacket at bud poyle and his son, brian, who's an assistant general manager with the team now. But I just think it was. He's one like one of those people that are superstars, where hockey is absolutely everything. You're consumed by it, everything you do is for hockey and I think he really dedicated his life, the rest of his hockey career, to the national predators of building the organization to where it got when he was able to hand it off and step by so very deserving, most winningest GM in history. But the thing that impressed me most was how much he loved he truly loves hockey and the Nashville Predators. So he is definitely a well-deserved Hall of Fame honor.

Speaker 2:

You nailed it.

Speaker 1:

Mace Can't say it better than you did there, that's why you probably could I mumble and sometimes I don't talk loud.

Speaker 2:

So you nailed it, you nailed it. You said you did, you did. David Poyle yeah, perfect justice. So nice to see those guys in the hall, and I think that's a wrap for our first.

Speaker 1:

Did you want to do that Instagram thing, or is that too much?

Speaker 2:

We're going to do that Instagram thing.

Speaker 1:

Okay, this is a good one. Just explain what it is. We'll do a little teaser, because it's some kind of cool stuff.

Speaker 2:

We want to tease that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because this is game day.

Speaker 2:

I need my nap. I'm a ritual on my nap, so I need to get my nap. But we are going to talk. There's an Instagram that I came across my page as they do. Uh, basically is a top 20 advice little little adages on advice for men. You know the first one uh, always stand when you're shaking someone's hand, always look them in the eye. Uh, what, there's a couple, there's 20 of them, and I thought they were great little pieces.

Speaker 1:

Never make the first part of a negotiation, first offer to negotiation.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, like the first offer, there's a bunch of little things, but I think we need to dive into that because there's some I agree with 100% and others I would let slide. So good food for thought. We'll discuss that in the next. Sounds good. But, as always, get on and please send us. Whether you like it, hate it, go, let us know. Feedback is king. We need to know what you guys want to talk about. Any suggestions we'll get after it, obviously we're. We're kind of hitting all yeah, I like it though it's our life.

Speaker 2:

It's awesome. I love it. I hope the people do life.

Speaker 1:

It's awesome. I love it. I hope the people do and yeah, that's awesome. Cheers everyone.

Speaker 2:

All right, that's it. Bagchucker pod episode.

Speaker 1:

Cheers.

Speaker 2:

Cheers.