The latest episode of "Signals from the Deep" features a lively discussion with Yanni Gourde, who shares insights on the importance of physical play and energy in hockey. He emphasizes how bringing that intensity can shift the momentum of a game, making it a crucial aspect of his role on the Kraken. Hosts Piper Shaw and JT Brown also chat with Yanni about his favorite games to play on team flights as well as their predictions for the upcoming Super Skills Showcase happening in November.

The Kraken are encouraging everyone to play hooky for hockey. Download your excuse letter. Make a fake dentist appointment. Do what it takes to be at the home opener at one-thiry p.m. on October 8.

Visit seattlekraken.com for more details.

Hey Kraken fans.

32 Bar and Grill is excited to announce their new fall menu featuring new sandwiches including the return of the fan favorite prime rib dip and introducing new happy hour offerings.

You can catch all upcoming Kraken games and other big sporting events at 32 bar and Grill, located inside Kraken Community Iceplex, the home of your Seattle Kraken.

Hey everyone, and welcome to another edition of Signals from the Deep, the official podcast of your Seattle Kraken. I am your host, Piper Shaw, and I am joined by our lovely producer extraordinaire, Grant Beery. Grant, how are we doing today?

I'm doing very well. What do you think of that new theme music we got? We debuted it last week or last episode.

I love it. I particularly love the accordion vibe happening in it.

That is all courtesy of our team organist Benny Drawbars. He has been cooking this up for a few months for us. I insisted we have an accordion in there, but love the vibes.

I think it matches the deep and the motif that we've got going on here. So let us know what you think, fans, if you like it, and if you see Benny around the arena, let him know. Give him a shout out.

I agree. He is also just such a musically gifted fellow. I've had so many conversations with him about so many facets of music.

He has a truly impressive grasp of that art form.

Did you, you know he was featured on an episode of the Conan O'Brien podcast?

I did know that.

It is a really good listen. I think he does a great job of shouting out the here. But also, you learned about his day job, you know, when he's not at the arena and it's. I'm not.

No spoilers. Go ahead, go find it. Go take a listen. It's really good stuff.

So I actually, two years ago, did a feature on him where I learned that, and I didn't know that about him before I started this interview with him. He's just. He's awesome. So shout out, Benny.

Thank you, Benny. Appreciate it.

And with that being said, obviously we said it in our last episode, but signals from the deep is, a tentacle of the Kraken hockey network. So we have just a couple of updates for you guys on kind of the state of the Kraken hockey network.

So we've already gotten so much awesome feedback on the broadcasts. You know, there's a couple of maybe bigger issues. All of those things have been sent to the parties that need to, you know, address them.

So we hear you. We know they've already increased the size of the shots on the score bug.

So some of those things, it's, you know, an ongoing process where we're working, we're learning. We hear you and just expect continued growth in that way. I got to see some pictures of our studio set that we will be debuting. It is so awesome.

It's going to be the first hockey centric set in the northwest. It's got some boards and some glass. It almost looks like you're in a rink, so it's super cool.

And then the home desk for our hosts and analysts for pregame and intermission and postgame. That is much larger new design. And it's been relocated to the space Needle lounge, so it can accommodate up to four people.

Oh, wow.

Yeah.

So the plan is to probably have some guests on throughout the season, some hockey guests, but also maybe some non hockey guests as well, to kind of improve the entertainment experience a little bit.

Love that.

We're pretty jazzed.

So, like we said in the last episode, you know, our preseason broadcasts have been really about kind of getting into the rhythm of things again for everybody. But we haven't had a full pregame, post game, intermission show with all of our talent, all of the kind of moving pieces that we will have.

So we're excited for the regular season to get that underway. And speaking of our broadcast, my co host for this episode is the one, the only, JT Brown. Hi, JT.

Hi, Piper. Excited to be here.

Grant, good to have you here again. It's been a while. A few episodes, yes. So always glad to have you in front of the mic here.

Oh, it's always a fun time and excited to get to talking.

I like the t shirt you're wearing. I know that our listeners can't see it, but could you describe it for them?

Well, it's a Star Wars t shirt with Samuel Jackson on it. And, yeah, I mean, it's a good one from Lexi. Lexi bought it for me. I can't take credit for it. Most, like majority of the clothes I would wear.

Not suits, though.

I'm not giving her credit for the suits, but for a lot of the clothes, she does do a lot of the shopping and comes home with nice little gems for me all the time.

Do you have a Jar Jar Binks counterpart because controversially, JT is a big jar jar Binks fan.

I tried. Piper, we talked about this. I tried to get the jar jar shirt, but it just came in weird. Like it just. The sizing wasn't. It just wasn't right.

It was kind of like off centered a little bit. So I am still working on that. Still working on getting a jar jar tattoo as well. So the jar jar love is still. Still here and it's not going anywhere.

I don't care what the haters say. Okay.

Love it.

I love that journey for you. It's definitely not my journey.

Do you subscribe to the fan theory that Jar jar is secretly like an evil Sith lord that is working behind the scenes to kind of play both sides?

No, too much, a little too far. We're going to just leave you there. He's my favorite. I will stand by that.

All right. All right. Well, let's get into a little bit of hockey talk. I want to talk a little bit about some of your feelings and thoughts on the preseason.

First of all, you know, obviously on our broadcast we've been talking a lot about one Brandon Montour and for good reason. How has he looked to you, JT?

I think Monty's looked good. I think you what we know we're going to see out of Monty is what we've seen so far throughout the preseason as well.

I mean, there's a reason why the Kraken wanted to go get him his offensive capabilities and be able to jump up into the play. He skates tremendously well and obviously 30 plus points over the last few seasons for him.

That's going to be something that the Kraken are also going to need. They leaned a lot on Vince Dunn in the last few seasons when it came from the production side as the defense is concerned.

So now you're adding another one. Also a right handed defenseman as well. That's a commodity in the NHL.

A lot of teams always are looking for that right handed defenseman that can play on the power play just like Monte does. And he's got that shoot first mentality, which I think will be a good thing. But defensively, he's, I mean, he's tough to play against as well.

He's tough in the corners, he's tough out in front of the net. So, you know, to have a guy like that that can bring the offensive side to the game but also play defense, he's not just a one dimensional player.

I think that's only going to help the Kraken.

You mentioned he's tough to play against you at one point in your career. Played with him with the Anaheim ducks for, for a little bit of a bit.

Just how would you describe kind of his energy and his personality to fans as well?

I think the fans will get to see this more. They, you know, whether it's interviews or they see different content pieces with Monty and, you know, he's always smiling.

He's always got a lot of energy. He's a charismatic person and, you know, he just tries to bring that fun to the rink every single day.

And obviously, there's a serious, a serious side to him as well. When you get to the game, you start playing, obviously going back and forth.

He can chirp, you know, between the benches and, you know, get under player skins.

But when it comes to, you know, being a teammate, a friend, you know, somebody that just wants to have that high energy, bring the, you know, good vibes overall to the locker room to, you know, going out to dinner, whatever the case may be, just somebody that you always want to be around.

And, you know, obviously, every team needs players like that around the locker room, especially when times get tough, you know, type of player that can kind of refocus and bring everything back to, you know, a more positive light.

I feel like we can definitely see the value that that would bring to this particular team in this locker room as well. So I feel like the good vibes are, the good vibes are flowing on the ice and in the room.

Oh, yeah.

That's all about the right people, right? Obviously, the, the hockey component is a big one, right?

You're out there to try to win games, but you're also worried about, you know, what type of people you're bringing into the locker room. And the Kraken have done a good job as far as that's concerned and making sure that not only the player is a good player, but the person as well.

Speaking of another exciting piece brought in over the summer, Chandler Stephenson. What have you thought at the couple peeks that we've seen at him in the preseason?

Well, he sees the game extremely well. Sometimes it feels like the game might be slowed down to him with the type of plays he can make.

I mean, I look back at the game versus Calgary and the backhand pass from behind the net, you know, no look, hits Tolvanen in for the goal. I mean, plays like that, obviously that's a highlight type play. It's not going to happen every single game. But you see, you know, what he's seeing.

You can kind of get a glimpse of what you're going to see, you know, from time to time. But also, I mean, I look at the face off circle. He's great in the face off circle. That's a. Yeah. Big component of the game.

You know, there's not a lot of times where or the game is majority reading and reacting, but when you get the opportunity to stop and set, whether it's making a play or trying to win a face off on the power play, penalty kill, you know, that's an area where you can really benefit the team, just starting with the puck and not having to chase it. So there's that part of the game.

He skates well, sees the game well, I mean, and really can play in all, all times, all positions, whether you're talking about penalty kill, power play, you need a goal, you're up a goal, you're trying to defend the lead. I mean, he's got, you know, just basically the complete package.

Yeah. That pass to Ellie Tolvanen and in that preseason game was. That was, that was a thing of beauty.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm pretty sure he was trying to hit Burakovsky. Yes, it was very. They were close enough that it could be to either one.

Not going to discredit it, though, because it's still a great play. You still have to have the instincts, you still have to be able to know. And that's the part of the preseason.

Wherever you're seeing plays like that already start to happen is a good thing. You're starting to see some chemistry, some. When you go out there and you have to think about plays, it's not good.

So they're not thinking, they're just reading. They're going out there reacting and that can take time.

And for those type of plays to happen that early in the preseason, it's a good sign whether that's good practice.

You know, everybody's getting on the same page when it comes to the systems, but, you know, when you can see those things kind of happen early in a preseason is pretty good.

And good on Tolvy for getting into that position, too, and getting back to make that happen to.

I mean, the easy part for him would have been just to stay along the wall and not fight your way back to the front of the net. And obviously it could have gone to Berkey, could have gone to Tolby. It ends up on Tolby stick for a perfect little tap in on the backside.

So again, as a line, that was a good play.

I mean, just started from a simple job getting the puck into the zone, getting it down below the goal line and all of a sudden 2 seconds later a slick backhand pass and it's in the back of the net.

So from a perspective of bringing in two veterans, Montour and Stephenson, what do you think Ron Francis mindset is bringing them in with a team full of these young guys, is it to have a veteran presence to help them, I don't know, learn faster, especially under a new coach, or is it something else?

I mean, I think you definitely have the veteran aspect. I mean, obviously bringing in guys who have Wondez and when you look at Stephenson two times, obviously.

So like that is a huge aspect when you're looking at building a team and you want to. You want to be surrounded by winners, right?

The people who win, they can breed and teach the younger kids exactly what it's like to win or how hard it is, I guess would probably be the better way to say it. It's not an easy thing to do.

But, you know, I think the other aspect is just going out and getting needs where places where maybe the Kraken lacked in the past couple years. And, you know, that's the one thing that you have to keep doing in this league. It's not a game where you can just stay with what you've done.

You have to keep trying to improve and, you know, they went on did that, right? You need a little bit more scoring. You need to secure a little bit more depth at the center ice position.

I think, you know, adding a guy like Stephenson is going to help not only, you know, a guy like Matty Beniers, but also you look at the wingers, Jared McCann, Bjorkstrand, players like that, Burakovsky as well. Having a guy that can facilitate but also changes matchups wise. Right?

Like I think now you have other teams looking at all right, well, we have a line with Matty boniers. Now we have a line with Chandler Stephenson as well. It just makes them think a little bit more.

Can't just put one line out to stop the one crack in line. Now you're going to have multiple lines that have a lot of skill and they're going to be a much tougher team to play against.

And I think when you transition to the back end, the defensive side, I think we've done a great job with when looking at Vince Dunn, getting on the power play, running that, but then adding another offensive side where, you know, a lot of that rested on Vince Dunn's shoulders, especially when it came to the power play time, you know, having a Guyenne like Brandon Montour that can shoot the puck, he skates very well, sees the game having that, you know, having a one two punch, especially when most teams nowadays are going with the one defenseman for forwards out there for the power play. I think that's a big part. But again, I think, you know, the best part is that you're bringing in winners.

There's already Cup winners in the locker room right now, and you keep adding them. It just helps create, you know, a winning culture, and they're just taking the steps needed, you know, each year to get to that level.

I want to go back to how you mentioned kind of how Stephenson bolsters that center depth. How much can having, being stronger at the center position really benefit this team?

Because like you mentioned, that's not always been, you know, one of the strengths of the Kraken, necessarily. How much can that really benefit the group?

Well, I think it's, it's not only the face offs and I think that's a, you know, like I said, the part of the game, but the majority of the game is reinteracting being that support system. They're in the middle of the ice, and a lot of times, like I look in the defensive zone, they have more responsibilities than a winger.

Probably why I like to play winger. I'm like, hey, I got my defenseman up at the blue line. We're okay.

Obviously, there's times where you have to switch, you have to do things, but for the majority of time, they're going to be down low, they're going to be in front of the net helping the defenseman. And so there's obviously a little bit more responsibility there. But as a winger, I also look at it from the standpoint of, you know, a puck.

It's rimmed around the wall. You have a good center, you have a strong depth, a good center ice position.

They're the difference between an easy breakout and having that quick five foot support pass being on the wall versus an extended shift in our own zone. And now we're tired and we don't get to go play on the offensive side. Likewise.

I mean, through the, you could talk about that same sense through the neutral zone, but also, you know, going into the offensive zone.

A lot of the plays start through the middle of the ice, and when they do, then they can draw everybody in, dish it out to the outside, and that's where that magic, the offense starts to get created. So a lot of the focus, obviously, can be in the center ice and can be in the defensive zone.

And when they see the game and read the game extremely well, it really does help your wingers, obviously, your defenseman, too, when you're looking at the defensive side or getting an outlet.

But, you know, they do have the toughest job as far as I would say the forwards are concerned with being everywhere but also having to be in the right spot at the right time. So again, when you can have that level and again, you look at who knows how it's going to completely go down.

But when you have a one two punch like that and going through and you had guys like Yanni and who knows if right ends up being the other center down the middle. But you start looking at, and you can start playing little mind games yourself, like who, who's gonna get slotted here, slotted there.

And you just look at it on paper, it looks a lot better, it's looking stronger and, you know, every year. I mean, that's just what I mean myself. I'm looking at, that's what fans are looking at.

They just want to see that growth and seeing the continual, you know, development of this team and just to keep pushing for, you know, the ultimate goal. You know, obviously it doesn't ever, doesn't really happen overnight. It takes the steps and you take the process to get there.

And I just like looking and seeing like, all right, incremental steps and, you know, it's obviously something that I think myself and a lot of fans are excited to see.

You slipped his name in there for just a second there, but Shane Wright, I just want, I just want to know how you've kind of seen his game develop this year versus the glimpses that we've seen him in the past.

Yeah, I mean, you got to remember he's young, right? So he's consistently still, he's like a sponge. He's still growing, he's still learning and getting adapted to playing in the National Hockey League.

I think if you look at last season and him going down to the American Hockey League was really good for him and you could see the growth and the, the confidence when he did come back to the seattle. And obviously finding the back of the net can definitely help your confidence.

So you don't say going, going into this preseason, obviously he comes back with, you know, the last obviously there's a good little run with Coachella Valley, but also at the same time like the focus of getting to the National Hockey League. You can see the steps that he's made. I mean, look at even just little things like decision making, making them a little bit quicker.

He obviously still has a great shot, you know, when he gets to use that. So you just constantly see the, the growth and you see steps forward.

Same way you're talking about the team wanting to, you know, get to that ultimate goal. His ultimate goal to be a National Hockey League player and to contribute. So you see him taking those steps.

He has the tools and I mean, I even again, keep going back to Calgary game, but it's the third period and, you know, I thought he was the best player. Regardless of him scoring the power play goal in that game. I thought he was the best player on the ice.

He was attacking and that's when he's at his best. When he's out there looking to attack first and make that play second, he can be really dangerous. And we saw that.

I mean, again, you're looking at a preseason, as you get to the end of the preseason, teams are starting to play more of their NHL lineup. So that's another glimpse of just what he can do.

And then it's all about just finding that consistency right and doing that on a day to day basis, which is harder for younger players.

But when you look at his growth and his development and the journey that he's taken, you know, it looks at this moment that he's ready to take that next step.

And it really can't be understated too how much more confident he looks, how much more mature he looks and, you know, even speaks and presents like it's just, it's so obvious how that development off the ice kind of as a person, but also just like physically impacts that confidence on the ice, too. I feel like that we've seen from him.

Yeah, I mean, I, I don't know what it was like obviously for him to, you know, be in the spot he was in, the amount of pressure, you know, not only everybody else put on him, but the pressure you put on yourself, which I think in the most times for most athletes, you know, to get to this, you have to put pressure on yourself and you have to try to live up to it. But, you know, that can be overwhelming at times, too, and to kind of just seem like maybe you just let it go, right.

You go down, you have find success and now you're finding your own journey.

The journey that everybody thought you were going to have just isn't the journey that you're on right now and being able to find that own way again, that's just, that's how you can see the growth. And when you look at what he's done, obviously it wasn't the path that I think he thought or many thought he was going to be on.

But, you know, sometimes the path that's not the easy one is the better one in the long term.

And, you know, right now I like the way that I've seen his game grow, not only on the ice, but like you said, off the ice, how he carries himself and, you know, just being able to see that confidence and that growth within a person is pretty cool.

Definitely. Are there any other returning guys so far in camp or in preseason that have kind of caught your eye?

Anybody that you've thought has looked maybe a little bit better or just interesting.

To you for the returning guys? Yeah, I mean, no, I think it's a lot of it is getting the reps right. So a lot of the returning guys, you, you know what to expect out of them.

I think the one for me that you're, you're really looking forward to having a good year would probably be Burakovsky got to see some of the game and obviously his speed is there. Everything else, hopefully this year, big thing for him, just stay healthy, right? Obviously, he's only played in both seasons. He's 49 games.

So to be healthy, he can be a huge asset, especially when we're talking about power play, breakouts, entries. You know, he can be a one Mandev zone entry. He can get in and weave through, cut through the, the penalty killers.

And we look at his shot, we look at what he can do with the playmaking side. You got some time playing with Stephenson in practice as well with Jaden Schwartz.

So, I mean, you look at all these guys and you start looking at who the line combinations could be. You know, that's the guy for me that I'm looking at. All right. If he can be healthy, he can play to the level that we all see the skill.

We know that that's, that's not a question of whether or not he has enough skill to be, you know, a dominant player in the national hockey League. So just to have that, I mean, a lot of that is luck, too. There's luck involved with, you know, being healthy.

I mean, fortunately for me, I never really had too many major, major injuries that I would say that were obviously. I guess I lied. I just lied right now, I broke my hand, I broke my collarbone.

Your hip. Even in your retirement, you had to get your hip fixed.

All right, I lied. All right? I lied. So I had a couple of injuries, okay? But, like, there's nothing I could have done to prevent those. How about that?

Now you got me on flustered because I just lied, right to everybody.

No, you didn't.

I'm not going to edit it out either.

Yeah, no, please, please don't. Please don't. Please don't. But there's a little bit of luck that when it comes to that, right? If you know the wrong thing, ankle can twist.

Who name you name it. Anything can happen within this game. And, you know, that's part of even some of the best teams.

If you're not healthy at the end of the year, it's a tough. It's a tough road ahead. So you just hope for him to be healthy.

I think we've seen in glimpses of how good he can be and if we can get a full season out of Andrew Burkowski, to be able to help and continue to produce, you know, I think that puts the Kraken into a really good spot. Obviously, this is all you go on paper. Anything can happen through scene. Things can change however things work.

But I like right now that we're at the spot where we can look at the paper and be like, all right, I like this. I like this.

It's the privilege of the beginning of the year, right, when everyone's all charged up from the summer and the vibes are hard.

Optimism is all we have right now.

Exactly.

Unbridled optimism at this point. We got to ride the vibes. Ride the vibes.

How about any of the younger guys or some of the guys that have already been sent to Coachella Valley or back to their junior teams? Just anybody in camp that you were like, huh, interesting. Nice to see how you've been coming along.

Yeah, I mean, I think the. The forward depth in camp was very, very, very good. Go up and down.

You know, a lot of the guys that got sent back, but for me, I think probably the one that made the most impact, probably Jacob Melansen when he was on the ice, I think. I mean, I noticed it. I think the other team noticed it and I could see, you know, there was many times where he was getting under the skin.

And I think that, for me, maybe I'm just drawn to that type of player because it's the kind of player you were a little bit much more similar style, just not afraid to get in those corners. He's physical. He gets in the front.

He brings the battle to the other team and it's not something especially you see a lot of younger players but even in just in the NHL in general, it's kind of gone away from that style and it's. It's not necessarily saying you have to go fight everybody.

It's not saying that you have to go cross the line and you know, through preseason didn't do that. He played very physical and just kind of wore down teams. You could see it in the way his forechecking pressure was.

So a guy like that, I think that every team needs some sandpaper. They need a little bit of grit to be able to play. Especially, you know, there are roles.

Not everybody's going to go out there and score 50 goals for your team.

So you need some players that are willing to do things that others want won't and I think he got a little bit of glimpse of that and obviously he's on his way. He's still working. He's still on his path.

But you know, when he does eventually get to that point, I think he will have a good NHL career if he can continue down that path. And I also think you have to look at a guy like Berkley Catton as well. Like obviously not as much time did we get to see him.

He's still very young. He's a baby bird.

Yes, but I think baby squid. The skill. You get to see why he was drafted as high as he. He was right. We get to watch him in practice. We get to see the.

The poise that he has, the stick ability.

He has patience in situations where most players at his age wouldn't have or the confidence that they probably shouldn't have going up here when you're, you know, you're up here against National Hockey League players and whether it's practice or preseason game, you know, to show that confidence. He is a young player. But just from the glimpses and just seeing him in practice a, you know why he was drafted as high as he was.

And I again, a type of player that has a very, very, very high ceiling. So as far as the young guys that mean those were probably two. I mean, but you could go up and down the list.

I mean I look at a guy like Ryan Winterton, Ben Meyers had a really good camp as well. But for me, I guess for guys that got sent down, you know, he gets Adam that he's had experience. Ben Meyers has.

But you know, I think for me just looking at some of those guys and that's the part of what also makes exciting, because anything can happen a season. Those guys can get a call.

They can come get five or six games, and you've saw in preseason that if that call comes, they're ready and they can come in right away and they can contribute.

So that makes it a, not only for the veterans, it pushes them, but it also shows, hey, we got a group of guys that are down in Coachella Valley that are, they're almost there. They might be ready. They're ready to go. Exactly.

And they're hungry.

I want to go back really quick to Jacob Melansen because I was talking to him the other day, and when he was asked what kind of message, you know, he wants to send to the fans and to the organization, he's like, I really want the message to me that I'm a guy that brings energy and that I'm not afraid, that I'm not afraid to, you know, be in the corners and win those kind of battles. But then I asked him, I was like, how much pride do you take, especially as a younger player, in being that guy who brings that physicality?

And he kind of laughed and I could tell that he, he was like, yeah, not a lot of players my age want to play that role. It's not the kind of role that is appealing. And he clearly sees so much opportunity for, for him in that he's totally leaning into it.

And I love you always seem smiling like he's, he's almost got a little bit of that Yanni energy, you know, like he, he's feeding off of the fact that he's getting under people's skin, and that's fun to watch. It's fun to watch.

Well, I mean, we saw it in the, the Calgary game. I believe he went and he took two good runs, and then literally the very next player might have been.

No, excuse me, it might have been versus Edmonton. Edmonton. It was in Edmonton. I believe it was Ekholm that took the penalty right after, and it was like, man, he's, he went off.

He literally took two runs and just obviously even there were clean hits, strong hits, physical. They felt the presence. And then it got to the other side and, like, they took a penalty, tripped him, pulled him down.

He's like, they already got him.

That was 20 seconds ago that he just laid two good body checks, and then the guy goes back and takes a penalty and I'm like, all right, you know, that's where you can, you can get guys to go across that line, even with you not going there. And again, that's the part where obviously smiling, you know, you're, it's working. You're getting under people's skills.

Much like a guy like Yanni can, much like a guy like Tanf can get under your skin as well. And it's still needed. It's still needed around the game.

Obviously, we're not even talking about like the fighting aspect, which they've gone away, but you still need to play physical, you still need to open up space for everybody else. And, you know, that's what it hasn't been, I guess a focal point as far as the team's concerned.

But at the same time, every now and then you get a guy like Hayden, he gets called up, he throws a little bit. You have a guy like Oleksiak that's not afraid every once in a while. So Borgen belligerent Bill. It plays with a little bit of sandpaper as well.

So when you can start adding a few more of those pieces around, obviously, you know, that time for Milans and hits coming and when it does, it's going to be, it's going to be fun to watch, I'll tell you that.

It's always great to have those kind of guys because you think about like favorite players that fans have and yeah, you've got your goal scores and everything like that, but I mean, and then.

You have your JT Brown.

Yeah, I grew up as an avalanche fan, really loving Ian Leperriere. I didn't score a ton of goals, but you know what he did? He mixed it up in the corners.

And so it's, I think having that presence on the team, like you said, is just as important not only from, you know, drawing penalties and things like that, but fans really like to see it. I mean, it's a much more fun game.

Well, I mean, they're type of players that can change the energy of a game. Obviously, we look at a lot of times like a fight can change the energy of a game, but it doesn't always have to be that way.

You have to have two willing combatants to fight. Like a lot of the times nowadays and fights are basically off of a bad hit, right.

There's not really that staged fighting anymore just to change the momentum of a game. And another way to do is a big hit, right.

You go in, good clean hit. Yeah.

Other team scores a goal, you throw out, you know, your, your fourth line or your guys that are willing to go out there do it. And all they got to do is go 100 miles an hour, try to put somebody through the boards and all of a sudden every fan is standing up again.

Even though the vibe just kind of took a little nosedive because the other team may have scored, but it just brings that energy right back to it. Your team gets re energized now they're barking as they come off the ice, back and forth.

It just kind of read like a, just a player like that can bring that energy. And we saw some of that in the preseason and it's, for me, it's very fun to watch.

I was going to say. I was like, that's honestly one of the, my favorite parts about hockey as a sport is that it is that game of emotion.

It is that mental game on top of being such a high level physical and skill game as well.

The fact that you can turn the tides, turn the momentum of the game just by even, like, the right chirp at the right time to the right guy can literally change an outcome in a way. Or it could. It has the potential to.

It's so much more than X's nose. Like, I mean, there's something to be said for that clinical, like, oh, we're recycling really well.

We're doing the power play the way we're supposed to.

You gotta have the heart, though. You have to have some heart, right?

Oh, yeah. Good old fashioned hit.

The thing that you can't measure, right? Like you can, you can look at a player, you can look at their stat sheet for, you know, their entire career and, yeah, sure.

Hits is a category out there, a category on many of the stat sites. And you look at it and like, oh, all right, this guy has lots hits.

But like, the hard thing is a different aspect and what they can bring, and a lot of times that's just not, there's no way to really quantify that.

But we can look at the goals, the assist, the points in and what somebody's able to do, but there's players that, you know, that heart and soul type player that you need on every team. And if you look at every team that's ever won, you're going to find multiple.

Yeah, I think that's also another thing. Kind of going back to what we talked about earlier with Brandon Montour. I think that's something he brings as well.

It's not maybe that chaotic madman energy as much, but it is still a positive energy. Right? Like it is a vibe on the ice and that's. And that's good.

Well, and then you find somebody that can do both, right. He's going to find himself on the score sheet, but he's also going to. He'll take a slashing penalty every now and then.

He'll get a little wires might cross in front of the net, but at the same time, more often than not, he's going to stay below the line. And, you know, that's what makes, you know, a player like that effective. Especially when you're talking about chirping.

Like, how do you chirp a guy that's getting in your face and he's putting up the numbers that he does like? It's easier when the guy has five points and you're like, you're bad at hockey. You have five points.

What do you say to a guy like Montour that's getting in your face and, yeah, he's upsetting you, and he's got 50 points on the year right now. You're like, well, all right, well, I'm gonna go back to the bench. I know where my spot is. I'm gonna go sit over here.

That should be a new stat. Drawn penalties. Like, a guy who gets, you know, a penalty called, you know, for him. Like, that's.

I'm sure there's almost two analytics sites that definitely track some stuff like that.

Yeah, I think it might be, Allison, you do it. You have penalties for and against, I think would be pretty. Almost like a plus minus. I think it'd be pretty interesting.

I'm sure that's measured somewhere.

Somebody's tracking it. Yeah.

This conversation makes me want to ask you, JT, who of the everyone that you've played with, who is the best at just, like, dishing a scathing chirp?

Just a scathing chirp that I played with.

Played with or against? I guess somebody, anybody that you encountered that you're like, oh, Mandy lethal in the. In the chirp column on the stat shoot.

I mean, that's a tough one, because there's a lot of guys that. That definitely bark our shot and likes to bark a lot. And I think the. The one that was probably the worst, but it wasn't even like.

It's because it was true. That's actually probably why we was. I can't remember when or what year it was, but we were playing, and it was Lucic.

He grabbed onto myself and Tyler Johnson, you know, at the collar with both of us.

Oh.

And I'm like, he's like, I'll beat the you know what out of both of you at the same time. And I was just like, yeah, I'm gonna take my hand off of you and say, yeah, you are probably right. I'm gonna walk away from this one.

It's like, that one. Like, it wasn't even a bad one, but I was like, it was just true. And it kind of hurt my soul.

I didn't see any way that we were getting out of that alive, even with the two of us, so, yeah, props to him on that one. He's a lot tougher than I was.

And, hey, shout out Tyler Johnson, Spokane, Washington native. Salute.

Sorry. Sorry, John. I didn't mean to put that one out there.

No, he's. He's a good guy. He's a humble guy. I'm sure that. I'm sure that resonated with him as well.

No, but, I mean, there's plenty of guys that get under your skin and that, that definitely can, that can chirp, so, I mean, some guys do a little homework and they know. So.

So I want to move into looking at the regular season ahead. Obviously, we've talked about camp and the preseason a little bit, but just kind of the schedule. Any thoughts?

Well, you just got to get your doctor's notes ready for that first one.

Buoy's gotcha.

I think the. I mean, it's a tough first road trip, right? Like you have Minnesota, Dallas in a back to back Nashville.

I mean, there's, there's a lot of every game in the national hockey. Let's just start by saying that is a tough game. But the schedule doesn't really do you any favors to start the year.

So it's going to be important for the Kraken to, to get off to a good start. First off, like you said, getting an afternoon game for the home opener is something you're not quite adjusted to yet. It's a different time.

It always is, you know, having those afternoon games, but then also, you have a, a stretch before you get on the road and you play your first road game, you know, between game one and game number two. There's some time in between there, so it's a little bit different than you, you would normally think. And then you get into a back to back.

Minnesota to Dallas is not a fun flight for a back to back.

It's not a fun flight. And those are two teams that will wear you down as well, especially in a back to back situation.

You don't get to, you don't change time zones and you get to gain an hour back or anything like that. It's in the same time zone. So that's a tough one. So it is a tough stretch.

You know, obviously you play it game by game, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter where you're playing, whether even if all the first five, six games are at home, you know, you want to get off to a good start and that's kind of the most important thing, especially new coaching staff. We have new systems. You have all this newness which does take time. That's why the preseason is really important this year.

That's why the reps were really important this year. But I look forward to the season and just seeing everything come together right.

There's no magic switch that you can just flip on and be ready for the regular season. And that's what all the hard work from, you know, the moment, the last game, the last double zeroes went off until now.

Like that is what all that work was for. And so you kind of get to that moment and you'll get to see it. I think the energy, especially on game one, is going to be out of this world.

I know that preseason, it's not a regular game and the energy can be there in different spots and timings, but it's a whole different animal when you get to the first game of the regular season and you got two points on the line. Yes, two points. Yes. You get to see what it's all about. But it's also you found your group, right? You have your group.

This is the first game with your, your team, right? Obviously I feel like at times you still have everybody that got sent down to, you know, especially to Coachella Valley.

They're still part of the team.

They will be a part of the team at some point, whether it's a call up, you know, obviously they help get you ready for this, you know, the start and they have their own season down there. So it still is a team mentality. But you have your group and now you're ready to go.

So excited for that first game and to see what happens from there on out.

So we would love to see everybody in any one of these home games coming up in the regular season.

tickets are only $15 a person or $12.50 each for a four pack. And they're just general admission seating in the lower bowl. Um, there's going to be some discounted concessions as well.

So it's a great opportunity to get into climate pledge arena and kind of get to experience the game day atmosphere a little bit. I have been privy to learning what some of the actual tests, some of the actual skills that will be on display are.

So, JT, I wanted to maybe do a little bit of predictions. Who do you think might do well in these categories? So for everyone, it's going to be team Daccord versus team Grubauer.

In the past, they got to, I believe they just, like, drafted their own teams. Like, picked their own teams. I would assume that's what they're doing again this year.

I don't necessarily know how the teams will be decided, but the categories are hardest shot, accuracy, obstacle course, breakaway, and three on three. The three on three is probably hard to predict. We don't know what their combinations are, but we can do the other ones, so.

All right. Forgotten those hardest shot. I'm trying to remember what the winning number was the last couple of years because I remember Athenae.

I think it was media day. Monty shot 99, so I think he might be able to get up to that 100 mark. I definitely. It might have been like 99.9.

I believe I saw a Instagram or something like that of Monty shooting 90. So I'm going to pick him for the. The hardest shot. I think, you know, obviously coming to a new team, new fans, he's going to want to impress as well.

Right? So he's going to go. He's going to give 100% effort on the hardest shot. So I'm going to. I'll take him for that one. You said accuracy.

Accuracy shooting. Okay, I'm gonna. McCann is. I'm trying to remember. See, again, my memory is already bad. Like, I already forgot who won these things in the last one.

I can't remember exactly who won, but I do recall that Jordan Eberle did quite well and that McCann, I believe. I believe McCann, like, crushed a bunch of the targets and then, like, struggled really hard on, like, the last one or something.

But I think either way, I believe those two did well.

No, I'm gonna go with. I'm not gonna go with either of them. I'm gonna go with Tolvanen.

Ooh, I like that pick.

You know, I'm gonna go with the. The underdog here.

Yeah.

I don't know what the odds may be for this one, but, yeah, I'm gonna take them.

All right.

I think that's a solid bet.

I like that. How about obstacle course?

Now, it depends. What type of obstacles are they running through? Walls? Like, do they have, like, physical structures that they have to run through?

Because then I might pick a guy like Tanv and. Or gourd, you know, like, that might actually just put their body in harm's way to go run through a wall.

But if it's like, are we talking about, like, stick handing through, like, cones, lifting the puck, getting up over? Like.

I don't.

There's many things we could do in.

The past, it was more things, like the ladder that you just named, lots of cones. They had, like, the black pads laid out so that there were certain kind of paths you kind of had to move around.

There was no walls or those bodies, the dummy bodies, the mannequins. The mannequins, they did not have those. It'd be hilarious if we could.

We need to integrate,

like, the football.

You know, when they get the running back, the ball, and they got a run through, and they got all the path. Like, that's what I'm thinking. Like, can we get a hockey player to skate right through that? We.

You know, we can probably borrow one of those machines from the Seahawks down the road, or the Huskies, and get the players to just see who can skate through it.

Is it still effective on the ice, though? I mean, we have to figure out some.

We can find some. Management will not go for that. I can promise you there's no way they're gonna let the player. Players. Maybe I'll do it. If you find a way.

If you find a way to get the. I don't know what that machine is called, but I know that.

I have no idea.

But you know what the machine I'm talking about, right? Like, I think that'd be hilarious. No. Okay. So back being serious again. Let's think about this. Ooh.

I'm pretty sure I recall that tan of did do well with this.

Yeah, I just once started, like, single. Is it a single player, like, or is it, like, a group, like, they have.

Oh, like the relay?

Yeah, like a relay type. I don't think just one.

I don't think it's a relay. I think it's individual.

Okay.

I believe.

All right, I'm going to go. You know, I'm. I'm taking another new guy. I'm going with a Chandler Stephenson . Oh, okay. I think that's a safe bet. It's got a lot of skill he can.

He's got speed. So, like, little combination of. Not just speed, not just hands. A little bit of everything.

I like that.

Love it.

Also, fans, for the record, we have learned that Chandler Stephenson strongly prefers to be called Stevie. He told Allison that the only person who calls him Chandler is his grandmother. So take that as you will, to our new fan base.

If you hear us all referring to him as Stevie, I guess that's his preferred reference.

A lot of new nicknames we gotta learn.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's still fine. It is his name to call him Chandler Stephenson .

It's his government.

That is his government name. That is his government name. All right, how about breakaway?

Now, another question. We may not have the answer. Believe in the past, it was not groovy. And the court in goal, they brought in other goaltenders.

Correct. They used our EBUGs in the past, and I believe that's what they're doing.

I would think that's what they're doing for this as well, because it's team to court and groove our. And in the past, like, dregs won both of these in the past when he was a captain.

Another question. Are we going for the most creative move? Like, are we just saying, because, like, I don't know.

Because I think it's like, we're holding up numbers, right? See who gets the. The best move? Or are we doing. You keep going until you. You miss a breakaway?

I'm pretty sure what they did was it was, like, judged on swag. You had to make it. But I believe it was judged on, like, a fancy Dan move, because I'm using a Jon Forslandism, a fancy dan. A fancy dan move.

Why not a fancy Edzo move?

I also. Because he's not the one who says it. Right. That's John's thing. Right.

So I'm pretty sure you don't make the shot.

Doesn't count.

Doesn't count, right. Because I recall. And again, memory is fleeting. We watch so much hockey, folks, so just take it with a grain of salt.

But I'm pretty sure that Jordan Eberle tried to pull something super incredible, and then he missed it, and so he didn't win it, and he was rattled. But the move was, like, absolutely incredible.

That's a shame.

And he was like, oh. Cause you know the hands on that guy.

I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go with Matty.

Oh, all right.

Oh, I like this.

I think. I think he's gonna come out with something, he's gonna plan something, all right? There's gonna be some. Some cool move. And you know what?

When it gets closer to time, I'm going to tell him that he needs to do something crazy so that I can win, even though I'm winning nothing. But I.

One thing about JT, you're kind of.

Stuck in the ballot box here. It sounds like, hey, if you're not.

Cheating, you're not trying. Okay?

JT is extremely competitive for folks who might not be aware. Competitive about things you wouldn't even imagine you could be competitive about.

Sometimes things that aren't, like, they're just not important. Like, there's no reason to be competitive about it.

But that's the greatest things to get fired up about, because in the end, doesn't matter.

Well, no, it always matters. I'm not trying to lose anything. Never.

Yeah, it's.

I'm the last person you want to argue with. You should hear it. I can lose the. I can be dead wrong, and I will still keep arguing just because I don't want to lose. I'll never give in.

And then I'll start, and then I'll start taking, like, cheap shots, like, personal cuts.

Fine, fine.

Especially if it is ever it fits you. If JT and Fitz are in a scrap, it's like, oof. Well, you know, I usually just turn around on the bus and disengage.

I'm like, I'm not going to participate in this any longer. And then it ends up being Fitz tapping me on the shoulder. Piper.

Piper.

What do you think?

Okay.

Help. Help us.

Oh, you're getting roped into this, and.

Only if it's really bad. And then I'm. I usually just disengage. I'm a big disengage.

Kind of like, it kind of brings up a fun question we got from somebody. Like your game day prep for the broadcast. Like, how much of it is you guys just getting loose before. Before airtime? Like.

Like, what does it look like for you guys on game day before a broadcast starts?

We're just talking, we're putting on, especially being on the west coast. It's very nice because we get to turn on the tv.

And during the regular season, you watch other games, you can watch teams, you're getting ready to play, but for me, it's more about relaxing.

All the work is already done at that point, whether it's in the morning, come into pregame skate, seeing who's playing, seeing the lines, you know, adjusting different things, taking. Obviously, Piper, you always have brilliant questions for the coach.

We're writing down different things that the coach may have said that we can use during, you know, the broadcast. We're kind of taking all that information. You can use the stat sheets. We're doing that the night before or in the morning, you know, before the game.

But for me, I don't like doing anything once I get to the rink.

That's kind of like, let your brain just kind of turn off for the next, you know, I get there at 330, and by what are we on at 630 usually is the pregame. So you get a little bit of time to just kind of relax, because once 630 turns, your brain has to be on for the next couple of hours.

So for me, no working. It's actually pretty easy.

Once we get to the rink, it's, you know, all the prep work that's being done, you know, in the morning and the night before, that actually is the harder part of it. And then also just watching, you know, a lot of hockey, which is not really hard, but it's just the consume time consuming part of knowing.

You want to know enough about the other teams as well that you're playing and getting to see, you know, what they're like versus. And we talked about the statute.

You can just look at the stat sheet, but there's things that you will not get from just looking at what they've, you know, their record over the last, you know, five to ten games.

Yeah, well, and your role, obviously, too, is so much about being able to read and react in live time and offer that analysis, you know, which is not really something you can prepare a ton for. Cause you don't know what's gonna happen. And that's the beauty of it.

Right? Yeah, I mean, I think the thing is, you prepare. You prepare and you keep preparing till you can't. You feel like you can't do anymore.

You just do a little bit more past that, and then you might not use any of it.

Yeah, probably not. You probably.

I mean, that's usually how it goes.

I mean, you have so many things, and whether it, again, you let the game tell the story, right, instead of trying to go in and create my own story of what I've heard or what I read or what I saw on this stat sheet. No, I'm focusing on what's going on in the game. Right now.

And that might not be, man, I had a great stat or something that I was going to pull up, but it just didn't.

It didn't resonate.

Yeah, didn't work. And you know what? But I'm. I went into the game knowing that I was ready. I had the notes and I had everything prepared and I think that's the. Yes.

Was it. I don't want to say a wasted time, but it's just not, hey, you know what?

You're going to use that next time or you're going to use it in a different spot. It may not be in that game. You don't have to force it into that situation.

So, you know, again, that's one thing with getting to work with John and Edzo and, you know, obviously talking to people around the league as well and, you know, getting to pick their brains and, you know, may not have to use. You don't have to cram everything into, you know, one broadcast. You definitely can use.

You're not going to use everything you write down, but that's okay. Right.

For me, kind of completely different because. Well, not completely different, but just obviously my role is functionally different. I'm not here to offer my thoughts.

I'm not here to offer my analysis.

I am here to report what it is that the coach said and what the players said, you know, so my prep is so much more of like the night before and kind of anticipating what stories JT, John and our, you know, great producer Ryan Shaber and Scott Malone for pregame, like, what they might want to highlight heading into a particular matchup.

So for me, that is being very keyed into kind of pretty similar to what JT said, but like, anything that might be a story that is worth sharing or color that is worth investigating into a little bit. Because for me, a big part of my game day starts at morning skate. I'm not just there to watch.

That's when we go do media and that's when we go talk to players and talk to coach to find out if there are any validity to any of these ideas that we have or kind of how they're feeling that day and then throughout the afternoon, that's where we're feeling out where these things fit or maybe don't fit.

So, for me, it's a lot of that, you know, that anticipatory prep in a way, but ultimately it is whatever they tell me, you know, resonates or doesn't resonate. Sometimes you might go into something and you're like, oh, this has got to be what they want to talk about.

And it's like, no, that's nothing to us today. And it's like, okay, and my job, I'm a reporter. It is my job just to tell you what they said, not what I think about it. Right? Love it.

So for me, it's that. And then it's also, we pick, typically, we have, like, a bench interview, like a pre game bench interview.

So kind of planning how those questions might fit into the overall narrative of the pregame show and whatever it is that John, Eddie and JT or Allison, whatever they're talking about, kind of giving them something to work off of as well or something that kind of helps add or complement to the stories that they are telling is kind of that role. And then when it comes to, like, player interviews, for me, like, one of.

One of the awesome parts of having done this now with this team since its beginning is that I have really good relationships with our players. And I know them. I know what kind of questions they respond well to, what kind of questions they do not respond well to.

Who is good at speaking about more of an xs and Os thing versus who is not good in the middle of a game. This is not to discredit them, but some of them, like, they're tired, right? Like, they're working their freaking tails off.

So sometimes digging into, like, an X's and O's explanation is just harder to access for some of them while they're sitting there panting and dripping in sweat. But for others, they're right drilled into it, you know, versus a vibes question versus a public special teams question.

Like, there's just certain things that they have, like, strengths of speaking in. So a lot of that is leaning on what we know about them as players and as speakers and, you know, representing them well, as well.

And Allison pointed out to me one time, she's like, see, that's where your analysis lies is in highlighting their strengths when it comes to drawing information to help the viewer experience. Because ultimately, that's what it's for. It is to give, to answer the questions that the fans would want to know in this moment.

What is it that the fans are wondering about? And what could we possibly get these players to address in the middle of this game that they're trying to win?

So, and also, we try to keep them quick and to the point and, like, get them out of there because.

You know, they got a game to.

Play, they have a game to play. You know, when we had the preseason game in Calgary and I was talking to Vince Dunn.

They had like 10 seconds of power play time at the end of the period, and he's the first one off the ice and obviously he's gonna be the first one back on the ice when they go back out for the rest of the power play.

So in my mind, I'm already, I already know it's like we need to, we need to address one, the power play because that's going to be the first thing that we see when they get back out there, clearly. But it's also like, Vince needs to go and sit with the coaches and like, they're going to go dress him up and he needs to rest up.

So we got to get him in and out and like, you know, so it's been awesome, though, to like, kind of have those relationships, like, start to pay off. But anyway, that's a whole separate thing from prep, but it's a lot of the, just the long term preponderance almost too.

Yeah, it's a great answer. Amelia eekysquid on Twitter had that question for us. So, folks, obviously we love questions from you all.

Signalseattlekraken.com if you'd rather email us, channelcracker.com podcast or we have a phone number that I don't remember off the top of my head, but I will chirp it at the end of this episode. So just listen for my voice. Thank you. I think we should take a quick break because we are going to have Yannigord join us here very soon.

So we're going to throw to an ad and then we'll be back with Yanny Gord. Sound good?

Yeah.

All right. Single game tickets have emerged from the deep. Now's the chance to get your seats to legendary battles throughout the season.

Experience Kraken hockey in person and feel the energy of the crowd. For every hit, every shot, and every save.

Go to seattlekraken.com tickets for more info, join us in the deep on November 9 for the Super Skills showcase presented by Washingtons lottery. Bring your family to get an up close look at Kraken players as they show off their talents in various skills challenges.

Tickets are on sale now and start at just $15. Go to seattlekraken.com super skills for more info.

Welcome back to signals from the deep. We are joined by a very, very special guest, one Yanni Gord. Yani, welcome to the pod.

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

No, no timeline. I got something to bring up because for everybody else, that break I just had was about 30 seconds.

I think for us, it was probably closer to, like, 25 to 30 minutes while we were waiting for Yanni. So you didn't bring me a coffee?

No.

Could have brought a coffee while we were waiting for you for that long. Piper, do you like coffee?

Yeah, I do. I have an empty mug right here. Yanni.

So you know what, JT? I love a coffee too. And I was expecting coming in this room that you were gonna pour me.

I know. Your order too.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

JT had time to eat three packs of fruits and a pack of mini muffins.

Yeah, thanks for the free snack.

So that just got turned back on me. So thanks.

Long practice and lots of fun.

Okay, fair enough. Fair enough.

Well, obviously you can see why we had to have Yanni on for the episode that JT is co hosting.

Clearly, last episode we had Brandon Montour on, and we were talking a little bit about games, various games, video games, games he likes to play on the plane. And I asked him if he was familiar with super talk at all, and that was a. Did not resonate whatsoever.

So we thought since you were coming on, we were going to have to ask about that. What is this game?

It's a board game that you move marbles around. The cards mean different things, so it's very strategic. So, yeah, we've been playing that for a little bit since. Since we got to Seattle.

And, yeah, guys love it.

Did you introduce that game or where.

Did you pick it up?

We played that game in Tampa on the playing, and maybe not when you were there at JT, after you left.

I know I've been gone for. I've been out of the league for a while. I don't know what this game is. What happened to regular games like sharps, seven up, seven down.

Any of that you still play or, like, what's the deal?

Seven ups is the other table or playing that? But, yeah, so we changed it up a little bit, and it's been. It's been fun.

Rate your skills out of ten. Like, how good are you at this is kind of like. Sorry, like, for. Is that. Is that a fair representation? But with cards?

Yeah, with cards and I.

Different meanings, but similar, like, along the same line. So, like, rate out of ten, how would you say your skills are?

I'm pretty good.

The rest of the team. Would the rest of the players playing the game say the same thing, though?

Yes, absolutely. And it's. Yeah, everybody knows that I might be the better player at that.

So you brought this game to the team, and now you're winning every single time. I think something might be going on.

I mean, it's not my fault if they don't pick up, pick it up as quick as I did, though.

I was gonna say, I was like, you must be very good at it to justify carrying that board around.

It's been three years. They can't figure it out yet. Like, it's not my fault. I mean, I'm doing my job.

I'm gonna make sure everybody listens to this, and they're gonna come together and.

No, I beat you at this game. Will Borgen's good player. Matty's just learning it, so he's getting there. Burky's been trying to learn it for two years. Still struggle.

He's my partner, and we're doing partners. Yeah.

Oh, okay. Again, I don't know anything about this game. I see you carrying this giant board. It's like three laptop computers combined.

Yeah.

Yes. Okay. Yeah.

So it doesn't fit in if it doesn't fit in the back.

No, no.

Like an easier, you know, any type.

Of game which, like a special carrying case just for this game.

No, no, it's just a board.

Oh, okay.

Yeah. I've seen you leave it a few times. Yeah.

You gotta drop it on the concrete, leave some character marks on it. Like, it's, it's, it's a nice, nice looking board.

Now, storied. It's a storied board. And it's a key part of the lore of the Kraken travel plan.

This one's a serious question here, Yanni. I think everybody kind of knows the lore of, like, Adam Larson's, like, deep v that's going on that keeps getting lower and lower.

But my question for you is, what is your beef with wearing a shirt? Like, do not have shirts that fit? Are they not comfy enough? Like, at this point, like, I feel like you're just trying to show off.

No, like, I'm sitting there trying to get it. Go to the plane, go to the taco bar, get a nice little taco, make it up. But then you, like, no shirt ever. Like, it's your thing. Like, I don't know.

Like, what is your problem with t shirts?

I'm just playing and I'm, it's too hot. So I just take my shirt off, and I also don't want to ruin it. I don't want to get, get it dirty.

So I take it off and, yeah, it just happened to go next to you every time and kind of flex a little bit.

So, you know, that's what I'm saying. It's starting to get a little bit disrespectful. Every single time that I'm going to the food tray, you have to be there. Tarps optional. Always.

So it sounds like it's working. It's getting in your head.

Yeah, absolutely.

Make me go back to the gym. Hey, here I am.

JT, you have been going back to the gym for the first time since I've known you. Good for you.

I heard about. This is news.

Yeah, he's been complaining.

Yeah.

He's like, I'm so sore. It's like we're on a plane full of athletes. Former athlete here pouting about working out.

I don't like the way this is arguing. This is turned

Taco station two, three times. Once would be okay. You don't have to.

At home I can do, you know, I can stay with a regime, but when I go on the road, it's too hard. I gotta. You just gotta let loose. Sometimes. You gotta eat the tacos, gotta go to get the Yoza's from Joey's as well.

So you gotta give it a try.

Definitely.

I'll try everything.

They call it the never hungry league for a reason, right?

Absolutely.

Very, very true.

Yanni, I wanted to ask you, if you had to bunkhouse with one teammate, if you guys were back in the days where you had roommates and you had to pick someone for the whole season, every single road trip, you're sharing a room with this guy.

Not that guy.

It's not JT. Who would you pick, though?

I think I would go with Tolvi. He's a good kid. I like him a lot. I like joking around with him. He gets on my nerve.

A lot of it works or our friendship works pretty well, so that's a pretty good one.

I don't know if I would have. No, I like it.

I can see why he would be good, though, because I can see him being fun and playful, but also respectful when it matters.

We play tennis, probably. Yeah.

No, we play tennis.

Yeah, we play tennis.

Who wins that?

I think he's better than me. I think so.

No honesty there.

Honest person.

Another.

I don't know why you're questioning that.

Another question I have for you, which is a very sore subject for JT.

Again, how do you subject are we going?

How do you feel about vegetables? Do you have worst ones, favorite ones? Do you eat none?

I eat pretty much all vegetables. Difficult with that. Any favorite one? I don't. Yeah, I don't really care. I eat whatever is on my plate.

JT, how about. How about you?

Nope. Nope. Still, I eat broccoli.

Only the top.

Only the top of the broccoli.

Oh, yeah.

That's about the only vegetable I like.

JT told me last night he will pick the tiny diced onions out of fried rice. Yeah, he will go that far.

And carrots, too. No, I'm not doing that.

I'm like, how. I can't believe you were able to sustain life as a professional athlete without eating any vegetables, ever.

Metabolism. Just eat.

It's gonna work that much harder.

It's not my fault I don't like them, all right? You know, blame my parents for not forcing me to eat vegetables. All right? So now I have this thing where I just don't like vegetables.

I'm not gonna eat them. No one can change my mind.

I just thought it was a good opportunity to roast you and make Yanni look good in the opportunity.

Yeah, but I'm not gonna go that far. I'm not gonna roast you for that.

Oh, well, I am. Roast you like a vegetable.

Yeah.

All right, different question for you. Okay. You know, we're getting away from the vegetables. It's on the line, so. All right, you need to kiss, marry, and kill a hockey stick. So you gotta.

You gotta keep one. You know what I mean? The game. All right, so I'm gonna give you three hockey sticks.

Ooh, I like this.

Easton Senergy.

Yeah.

TPS response and the RBK. Nine K. Which one are we getting rid of? What's the. What's the rotation?

Kill the TPS. Yeah. And then

JT's sweating.

I would probably marry the synergy I like.

That's the only right answer there. Okay.

And then I forgot the other one.

The RBK. Yeah.

Is that the one with black and white?

Well, is that. It's Nike. I'm just trying to think if that's. I just picked one that I knew that you were gonna get rid of. It was mainly.

The question was between the other two. I don't want it to make it too hard for you. See, now, you should have kept the TPS response. Like that one.

That one was okay, like, do I need to send you a picture? Like, I need to show you these sticks again so you can see this?

Possibly. But I'm. You know what? I don't even know what stick I'm using right now, so I don't know why we're talking.

That's a problem. That isn't.

No, I know, but are you not? Actually, I actually don't.

Yeah, but your sticks, a lot different. Like, they're different than what we would back in that day.

Yes.

Energy, like, and they're all custom now. So you can have different graphics and panels.

So, like, you can be using a stick from four years ago, but it's still updated as far as the look to be what it is now.

Yeah.

I don't know if that was a secret, but, like. Yeah, the ones that are in the store are not the same ones that they're using.

So, Yani, are you not super particular about your stick, then? Are you just kind of more open to, like, mixing it up?

I know I am pretty particular about my stick. I like, once I like something, I really like it, and I don't really change that often. I grabbed Matty stick last year, and I kind of. I loved it.

So I've been using one for. For a while. Yeah. This one with holes in it?

Yeah, that's the one. That's the one you. That you're okay with that one?

That's the RBK.

I actually didn't mind that. That.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, weird. Is that they should bring that back.

Oh, please don't. Please don't.

I can't see the phone across the table. That's the RBK.

Did you remember?

You hate this?

Yeah, that one's gone. Bye. Goodbye.

Let me see.

Remember when I had all the holes in it?

Yeah. How do you tape that properly?

Well, no, not the one. There was one with the blade, but. Oh, yeah. I don't remember what that one was called, but end of the day, you made the wrong decision.

Sure. I don't think you're gonna tell him.

That, you know, better speed holes.

You gotta get those speed holes in there. Right?

We were discussing how competitive JT is. Have you guys gotten into. Have you ever gotten into a heated debate with this one, Yanni?

Probably a lot, but none that I remember very specifically. But we were sitting next to one another in Tampa, and we would. We would go, like, the. Like, go at it about or about anything.

Like, the amount of roll we would go on a stick.

Like, it could even be, like, after shooting the. The sock tape into the basket. Competitive with that stuff, the laces.

Like, how quick we would go with the laces.

I remember, like, one time, he's like, okay, you take the laces off without cutting them, and I'm gonna cut my laces and then see who gets them the quickest. So just so we have an idea. And it was, like, pretty much the.

Same time, but I might have edged it. We'll have to go back to the video tape that's no longer existent. But, you know, it sounds about right.

You guys have got to be two of the most competitive people that I know, so I'll believe it.

It's all in fun, but, yeah, no, they're just little games like that. We were talking grand, though. Like, it doesn't have to be anything that you should be that competitive about.

Like, how fast can you untie your skates and like, to get the new laces in.

Yeah, that's stupid.

But, hey, guess what?

Hey, it's another thing to show that you're good at, right?

Yeah. Where we stayed busy. We stayed busy.

So one of the things we were talking about earlier is the super skills showcase that's coming up. I don't know if you guys have been made aware of what the skills that you will be competing against are, but I know. And we can share with you.

We wanted to get maybe your predictions just, like, face value, how who you might think would do well in these. JT made his predictions, so we can discuss.

I think I'm gonna get a couple, right?

Yes.

It's in November.

I did not pick you.

No, I'm just. Please don't pick any predictions.

We also don't have 100% clarity on, like, exactly. Exactly how some of them will look. But you know, how it was in the past. So the first one is hardest shot.

I'll go Jamie Oleksiak.

Okay.

You probably went McCann.

No, no, no. I went with Monty.

Oh, yeah.

I saw the Instagram thing or something where he shot like, 99.9 at the media day. So I was like, all right, let's get one. Fair enough.

The next one is accuracy. I think that's one you guys have done, too.

Yes. Accuracy. Jordan Eberle, I think.

Okay, would you go with Tolvanen? I got a little underdog here because I went with. I feel like I would have. It would have been everly or McCann is probably like, the.

For me, it would be the top. And then I'm like, all right, well, I'm gonna pick somebody that I. Sleeper pick. Yeah.

Yeah. I don't know. It depends on how hard you're shooting those on the target. So I don't know.

Well, we'll see. We're gonna come back to this when it's all said, who got more.

November 9 is when this is happening. So we got a little bit of. Little bit of time to get into the groove.

The next one was obstacle course, which I don't know if you remember how it was in the past, I'm assuming it's gonna be similar.

Probably go with Matty.

Matty. That's a good one.

Would you, Stevie? Is that what I picked?

Yeah, you pick.

See? It's a good pig.

No, it's absolutely. I think.

Well, you can't really go wrong.

I mean, there's good players on this thing.

That's a perfect answer for a teammate. I can say there can be wrong answers. I'm not going to, though.

I don't know. I mean, there's clear skill sets.

I mean, if you said Will Borgen, I would have said maybe disagree. I think you would as well. Yeah. I love him.

I said I didn't pick you. Come on.

I was gonna say, I think will would also agree with.

With that.

I don't think he's putting his hat too much.

Although I did say. Hold on. If he said if it was an obstacle course, I don't know if he knows.

But, like, have you ever seen, like, football practice when, like, the football player, they get the. They take the ball and they have to run through the obstacle and, like, try to get through without fumbling the ball.

I said, if they could put that on the ice, I would like to see you and Tanv go through it and see who gets through first.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's. Yeah, that would be a good.

All right, let's set it up for next year. Let's do it. Yep.

Yeah.

I don't know if that's a sanctioned activity on the bad idea.

Friends of the Seahawks. Get some equipment. I think it'll be perfect.

Then the next one is breakaway.

Okay.

And we believe that how it wasn't in the past was where it was, like, judged on how kind of fancy you could do it, but you also had to actually score if you're gonna score.

I think I take Bjorkstrand. If you're gonna make a skill play, I like something like. Like, really nice and skilled that people are gonna enjoy watching. I'd say Matty.

You took Matty?

Cause I think you have to go based off, like, the theater aspect too. Right? Like, it's. You have to still score, but you gotta put some fun into it. Like, not just go down, take a slap shot, and score on the.

Matty's not that fun, though. But he's very skilled. I'm joking.

Matt.

Matt. He's fun.

Well, we got one of the same. He did say Matty. Well, you gotta. You can't have two, so that's.

Oh, okay.

Based on. Based on the fact that, you know.

You chose, uh, Matty. Al, go Bjorky.

Okay.

All right. So he just had to do it differently. So let's see. He's the one who's trying to be ultra competitive now. Couldn't allow us to have.

You're trying to make an appeal to me right now. JT is, like, the judge of this argument.

I'm not that competent. Look at Yanni.

That's not. That is completely not talking. And that's. I do that to Lexi all the time when she gets mad at me, and I'm like, that's not how I talk.

So now he's doing the exact same thing that I would.

Okay, okay. I trust you. I believe you. You don't need to.

She's gonna listen to it and be like, yeah, that's you. Payback your own medicine.

Thanks for listening to the podcast, Lexi. We appreciate it.

I was gonna ask you. So there's also a three on three competition, but we obviously don't know how that's going to be set up, so we can't really predict that.

But are there any other things that you think would be fun in a future? Super skills, like to kind of entertain fans?

I don't know.

I got one.

Okay, go ahead.

We just said it right now. See how fast you can untie, take your skates out. Like, take the laces out of your skates so you can get ready for the new one.

See who can do it the fastest. I think they did fastest tape job, I think, at one point.

So that's funny.

Maybe that's, like, in a virtual pre game show and we're just in the locker room.

I would have trainers switch steel, roll a steel in the corner, race the bench, get them changed up, go back on the ice.

Who do you think would do well?

Chris and Walder. All three of them are super good. They do it so often.

See, I mean, it'd be very close. Be quick. You have to have somebody really good with the stopwatch, though. Cause I feel like it'd be, like, so close.

As far as the timing is concerned.

Hey, we've got the replay system in the arena.

I guess I should use that, right? As far as the. Of those ones, which one would you want to do?

Like, if you got your pick, which one would be the, I guess, skill set, what would you try to do? Whether you win or lose, which one would you have the most fun in?

Yeah, I mean, hardest shot, I would 100% lose. Accuracy. So humble accuracy shooting would be. Would be fun, too, I think. Who knows? I could, I could get, I could probably get.

Just close your eyes and shoot. It might work.

Exactly. It's pretty much what I do on the ice anyway.

Jt, with your skillset right now, today, how do you think you would do? Which one do you think you'd have the best chance in?

Well, the best chance would be harder shot, and that's still the worst chance. Cause I'm not gonna do well. There's gonna be no. Well. No, not the accuracy. Nope. That's not gonna win it. Yeah, go there. What was that?

Breakaway. Breakaway obstacle course.

No, because I just. They're not enough skill to do some crazy move. Like. No, but the obstacle course, like, I don't. I'm out of shape. So be slow.

I'd be slow if everybody else be faster than me. So the only one I'd have a chance, like, to do okay, and would be shooting the puck, but I don't.

Even when I played, I didn't shoot it hard enough to win that. That's the only one I could do. I might be able to beat. I could probably beat somebody at the.

Hardest shot, maybe me.

You'd beat me. I'll tell you what.

You beat me, I guarantee I could beat a goalie at the hardest shot.

I don't think Joey. I don't think Joey's been working on.

I've seen the one timer. That is disrespectful. You don't think that I can take a one slap shot harder than Joey decord? I am hurt.

Does he have to use his goalie.

Stuff, or can you use a real stick? No, you can use a real stick. Yeah. Come on now.

All right, you know what? I still think it's disrespectful. All right, there's no shot. No shot. Joey will beat me if we do a harder shot. There's no shot.

I'm thinking Joey.

So earlier in the podcast, Yanni, we were talking a little bit about kind of chirping and fighting and kind of playing a physical role and how it adds to the entertainment value, but also how it can just be such a catalyst to turn the energy of a game. Obviously, that's kind of. That's certainly an aspect of. Of your game as well. How much. How much fun does that add to you to. To your job every day?

Knowing that that's a little bit of, you know, your role, too, is to be that guy that can kind of bring that sandpaper, but also really get in the heads of your opponents.

I like it. I mean, it's. This is how I play. I'm just trying to go out there, bring energy, try to, if we have the momentum, just keep it going.

If we don't have the momentum, just have an energy shift. Something that kind of switches momentum around. Stop@the.net. maybe create a scrum.

Sometimes it just, like, sometimes it don't need that much to just change the vibe of the game.

Absolutely. JT was saying that that was a fun part for you when you were playing, that there was nothing that you enjoyed as much as getting under the skin.

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, that's part of it.

Right.

Obviously, I think you can look at from an aspect of their thinking about you instead of worrying about the game. I think you can drop penalties that way.

Obviously, there's times where it does go too far, you take it to another level, but I think for the majority of the time, it's a always going to be a benefit for the team, creates more room for your players, also, when you're playing that way. But I also think, like the defenseman, every time you go in on a four check, they're all right. All right, 30. Seven's on the ice.

Or, you know, 23 was out on the ice. Whoever was playing that type of role, they know when you're out there.

Yeah.

They're going to make their move a little bit quicker. Now, they might not take that extra second to go tape to tape. They might just rim the puck.

So, I mean, I've always been grab or I always gravitate, especially watching the games and seeing, you know, the players who play like that, just be able to, because that's how I like to play. So for me, it's always fun to watch that.

It's fun to watch you play in that style, obviously, from a different role now, obviously, getting to see you play on the same ice, you know, playing on the same team together, playing against each other, but now, obviously, being in the broadcast booth, being able to see it from a different aspect as well and seeing what you bring to a team, even though I do chirp you all the time, I do. You know, obviously, I have the most respect for the way you play. Obviously, you're. You're a proven winner. It takes a lot of heart, a lot of guts.

You play the game with the heart on his sleeve. And I think that it's, you know, for me, it's a very well respected way to play the game, and I just enjoy watching you.

Well, I appreciate that. Thank you so much.

And I'm never saying any of that.

I was gonna say, I was like, that's the next ever to anyone.

I need that clip then.

No, no, no.

He doesn't even speak to his wife like that. Shout out, Lexi, stop.

No, I mean, I think it's important.

I think, you know, just to have some players like that on the team and the way they play and even just from a locker room standpoint, and obviously not every year here has been, you know, where you want to go. Right.

Obviously, the end of the goal every year is to win the championship, win the Stanton cup, but at the end of the day, you know, having players like you that can bring the energy, that can keep the vibes the right way, that can kind of try to change the momentum of a game when things aren't going your way. Those are huge aspects for a team, and not everyone wants to do those things.

Definitely. Well said. I have a question, one more question for both of you that I think would be fun to answer from a fan.

This comes from a fan named Gabby, who actually we met last week. JT. Or maybe not last week. I can't. Time is a flat circle.

But when we had the Kraken hockey Network practice day, she said, do players, like, when fans make signs for them, slash interact at warm ups, or is it kind of distracting and or annoying you first?

I personally don't pay too much attention, and I'm sorry if I don't, but for some guys, they love it, and some. Yeah, I think they dream warm up. I'm so focused, and I. I don't know, I'm. I'm pretty busy, too, as I'm running.

You're working?

Yeah, as I'm running to warm up as well, so

that's way too much work, by the way,

so I'm not paying too much attention to it, but if there's a funny sign where we're definitely gonna see it, then we're definitely gonna chat about it in the locker.

Room after you expend way too much energy, chase around, getting the pucks, setting them all up, knowing the time. Like, I did that once, and I was like, never.

I know. I remember. I remember you. You doing it.

My timing is terrible, by the way, too.

So I got called up, and.

And then I think Brian Boyle was doing it before, and then I got called up, and then Jt did it one game, and Hedy looked at me, he's like, you're doing it. That's it.

No, no good. No good. I want to do that.

We don't want this guy doing it.

I think the signs are. I think they're fun to watch again, not having to focus on all the rest of that. It was fun. I think, for me, there was one in particular, too.

It was a game in Carolina. There was a sign, and they said, if JT scores, we get a puppy. And I was like, well, they picked me because I'm probably wasn't gonna score that game.

Well, guess what? I scored. And they had to go, and they sent a tweet. They took the picture, and they ended up getting a puppy for it.

So that one will always be, like, a fun memory. They didn't pick Kucharov or stamkos or anybody like that because.

Did they name the dog after you?

Brownie?

Yeah, I think it was chocolate lab. And they. I think they did, but I'd have to double check on the name, but I know they got chocolate lab. I'm pretty sure it was brownie.

It was a while ago, but that's nonetheless those things.

Now I'm also upset because, like, now there's a lot more signs that say, like, hey, give me a stick, and then we'll play candy or rock, paper, scissor for candy. That those signs. I don't think there were as big back when I was playing. I think it's kind of, like, more recent thing, trend. I would have.

Yeah, I would have given away a bunch of sticks for kid. Like, the equipment staff would be like, how are you going through this many sticks? And it's like, I got a pile of swedish fish underneath my.

Going for that. So I. I think the signs are a great thing. I would have loved the candy ones, but obviously, getting to see the. The puppy one was pretty cool.

And every now and then, you get to see a cool sign. So it's. So I paid more attention to it.

But again, I can agree to your point, though, with the, like, running the actual warm up is too much work for me. I like to just go to the little spot, take a shot, spin around, chew my gumdeh, look up at the jumbotron. Oh, hey, I'm on it.

Wave.

That's how my warm ups work.

It's a good thing you're in the broadcast booth now, because you're, like, looking at yourself on the.

Maybe I should have been more laser focused.

It's also just really cool that obviously, both of you have had such phenomenal careers as hockey players and continuing in this business, but also, ultimately, what you do is for the fans and to have fans show up like that. What a. What a cool privilege to have that relationship and that love, you know? So salute to you guys and salute to our wonderful fans as well.

Yanni, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for. I know that you didn't know exactly what you were gonna have in store.

until I opened the door. Here we go.

I thought it was good. I thought nice. I said some nice things about you. I'm glad you appreciate it.

Thank you.

Next time. Next time it won't be as nice. So everybody stay tuned for the next time. Yanni's on.

Sounds good.

You heard it here. He's coming back on.

I'll be prepared. That's next time.

I don't want that.

Awesome.

Well, thank you, you both. And thank you all for listening to another episode of Signals from the Deep. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple podcasts.

Leave us a comment, tweet us. And we're just really looking forward to a great season ahead of Grant, producer extraordinaire. Any final thoughts?

I just really want to see a lace. Laces. Lace race. Yeah, lace race in the next skills competition. So I'm gonna lobby to make that happen. That's a great idea.

We know some people. We can get it done.

Absolutely.

We know some people. Stuckey, if you're listening, get ready. All right, folks, thank you so much. We will see you back here for the next episode.

Signals from the deep is the official podcast of the Seattle Kraken, hosted by Piper Shaw and produced by me, Grant Beery. Music by Benny Drawbard. Have a question for us?

Send an email to signalseattlekraken.com or call the hotline at two zero six two seven nine seven eight one zero. your message could be featured on an upcoming episode.