Krakenland ft. Jaden Schwartz

Grant Beery: 00:00:01

32 Bar and Grill is hosting a 4 Nations Face-Off watch party on February 13th at 5pm Join us to cheer on Kaapo Kakko as Team USA battles Team Finland. Featuring Finnish food and drink specials, Kaapo side Kraken gear and the best hockey atmosphere around.

For more info, go to krakencommunityiceplex.com join the new Kraken Kids Club Sea Patrol, presented by Delta Dental of Washington. Sign up for free and get access to quarterly newsletters, partner discounts, priority access to special events and more.

Sign up at seattlekraken.com/SeaPatrol.

Piper Shaw: 00:00:58

Hello everybody and welcome back to Signals from the Deep, the official podcast of your Seattle Kraken. As always, Piper Shot here with you with JT Brown and producer extraordinaire Grant Beery. How we doing, guys?

JT Brown: 00:01:13

Fantastic.

Grant Beery: 00:01:14

It's cold.

JT Brown: 00:01:14

Oh, no, no, it's not cold yet.

Piper Shaw: 00:01:17

35, I was fine. I'm not wearing like a thick coat.

JT Brown: 00:01:20

I got a sweatshirt on and sweatpants. That's all I wore today.

Piper Shaw: 00:01:23

And it's been sunny.

Grant Beery: 00:01:24

It's colder than usual. That's what I'll say.

JT Brown: 00:01:27

All right, okay, I'll give you that.

Grant Beery: 00:01:28

I've gotten complacent moving. You know, I've, I've lived in Minnesota, I've lived in Colorado. I've gotten very complacent since I moved here. So the snow is a bit of a shock.

JT Brown: 00:01:36

So I feel like we were just on the road in Canada. Edmonton was pretty chilly when we were.

Piper Shaw: 00:01:43

Pittsburgh was cold when we were in Pittsburgh. It was like negative 11 when we were leaving for the game.

JT Brown: 00:01:49

So we still see some of those, like, frigid temperatures. So, like coming back to Seattle, even though, yes, it may be cold, it's not as cold as something we just experienced, so.

Grant Beery: 00:01:59

So I'm spoiled. I get.

Piper Shaw: 00:02:01

Keeps the skin thick enough because I do agree since moving here from Minnesota slash Wisconsin, my, like, my tolerance for the cold has gone way, way, way down. But we do, because we travel, we do get out and get re exposed to that, which makes me very grateful.

And when we landed after the Winnipeg game, I remember we were all getting off the plane and it's like what, two in the morning or something like that in Seattle and It was like 45 degrees and it felt so good and we were all like, oh my gosh, it's so nice here on the tarmac. We're like, oh, this feels great, right?

Grant Beery: 00:02:37

I remember when I lived in Minnesota, the day I decided to move back to Colorado, I was standing waiting for the bus to go to work. And it was negative 40 with wind chill. I was like, yeah, I don't think I want to do this anymore.

Piper Shaw: 00:02:49

So that brings up a great point that we were talking about a little bit before we started recording, which is it has been snowing in Seattle, which I love because it's for me not been enough snow to be like disruptive to life and just it's been pretty and it's not enough to be slushy and gray and gross and you know, all up with the negative parts of snow. Yeah, but there have been. JT, you said your kids school was delayed a little bit.

JT Brown: 00:03:13

Some hang ups with the snow two hour delay today. Yeah. So they have a home day and, and I woke up, I got the text and says no school or two hour delay.

And then they end up doing like, like iPad or like tablet learning with the school as well. So there's like two bones. First was like it wasn't enough. Two bones.

Piper Shaw: 00:03:30

He's got two bones to pick.

JT Brown: 00:03:32

Yeah. Let me just get the first runaway. There just wasn't enough snow.

I'm again other places, you know, I think more north of where I live got a lot more snow and. And maybe it was needed to have the snow day, but it wasn't enough snow. The roads were completely clear.

I didn't see any snow, not even really on the sidewalk. Unless somebody went on shoveled my sidewalk early this morning that I, I doubt they did.

Maybe I got a really nice neighbor let me know if that was you and you listening. But I just didn't think it warranted a snow day.

But then the other side of it was like, all right, well in Minnesota when we finally got either, it really wasn't snow days, it was cold days. It was because of those minus 40 wind chill days that school was canceled. It was an off day.

Piper Shaw: 00:04:15

Right.

JT Brown: 00:04:16

Like you went, you got to stay home, have fun. Like we didn't have tablets. Yeah, now they have.

They still have to go in like so you have to sign in, you have to go on like teachers gonna end up having, you know, some form of class and still have online learning. And I'm like, that's not really a snow day. That's not like what I remember as being like, yes, this is a day off.

Gonna sit down, we're gonna watch TV, we're gonna do it. If it wasn't minus 40, you'd be out playing in the snow. I've lived in a cul de sac, so it was awesome. You have like the snow mountain when.

Piper Shaw: 00:04:44

The plow feeling like an igloo y snow drift.

JT Brown: 00:04:47

So I think of snow day as like the best day ever. You got completely away from school. We were outside playing. All your friends were outside. And then I'm like, they don't even get that.

They still have to do school, but not at school. So those are my two bones. Like again, it's a little different here. Plow situation's different than Minnesota. Still getting used to that side of it.

Piper Shaw: 00:05:09

But you can't make snow an excuse in Minnesota because it's just such a way of life that you just have to figure out how you're going to get around it. But to the -40 temperatures point, you can't stand outside for the bus.

And I remember that always being what people said is that they're like, we literally. And it's. And it would be an all day thing too.

You can just delay because it's still cold at 3pm it's still too cold to be like, yeah, I'm going to send my 6 year old out to wait for the bus right in minus 40 degrees. Like it's like you literally can't be outside. But I have some rebuttal as well on the iPad situation.

I do agree it was the best, you know, when you had an actual snow day as a kid because you could go out and play in the snow versus as I got, as I got older, we had less and less snow days.

And every time that they would cancel school because of the cold days, which I think when I was like in ninth grade, I believe we had like six or seven days that were completely canceled because of cold days.

JT Brown: 00:06:07

Wow.

Piper Shaw: 00:06:08

They just add them on at the end of the school year. So in Minnesota you're supposed to be done with school like the first week of June, like June 2nd or 3rd normally.

And we had a year that we went to like June 14th or something like that because we had to add on so many cold days. So in that way, if you can preserve the school day and the learning, even if you're doing it from home, it kind of helps.

Cause I was like, I don't know.

I feel like I would have preferred in hindsight to be able to like not have all my summer days eaten up by having to make up for all the days that I was not allowed to leave the house or I.

JT Brown: 00:06:42

Would die, you know, future consequences.

I remember being close a couple of times to having to add on and I think, I don't know if this is perfectly correct, but like I thought there was like an allotted amount of days like, there has to be a certain amount of days. So they built in a few of them.

They know that it's going to be cold and it's going to be, you know, either a half day or it's going to be a fully canceled day. So they kind of work that in.

But I do remember a few times, I think it actually might have even been like my senior year and was just so upset that they were getting ready to add on one more day. And I was like, no, this is, this is the worst.

Piper Shaw: 00:07:11

I remember that year that I'm talking about, like they had to add on a bunch because it was just an insanely cold year. And I remember that year, it was a very dark year of my life. Plus I was 14. So, you know, just add that on top of it.

Grant Beery: 00:07:23

Crisis.

Piper Shaw: 00:07:24

It was really bad. Yeah, it was, it was a really dark time. Plus it's dark in Minnesota in the winter on top of it.

But so I remember it was like, it was like a big news story and like a whole thing because they were like, well, it's still cold. It's still cold. We're getting blizzards in April.

JT Brown: 00:07:37

And they were like, well, Seattle school goes long as well, if I remember correctly is like, I remember like Minnesota's way early. I think they're like mid to end June.

Piper Shaw: 00:07:47

Oh, really?

Grant Beery: 00:07:48

Oh, wow.

JT Brown: 00:07:48

So it's like already watch. I'm gonna be wrong on this one. But I feel like kids, you should know this, you know.

Grant Beery: 00:07:54

Yeah, you're the authority.

JT Brown: 00:07:55

I was worried about golfing at that point in time.

Grant Beery: 00:07:57

So.

JT Brown: 00:07:59

No, I mean they get into camps and everything else throughout the summer. So it all just really blends from school to like going into school camps and, and different stuff for there. So.

But I do remember that it was a lot longer. I remember my niece in Minnesota had been done for like two weeks already and they were still going to school.

So I think the school year is already longer here. So the iPad learning definitely, definitely helps in that situation.

Piper Shaw: 00:08:21

Well, all of this being said, all of our snow rambling or all of our weather reflecting brings us to the fact that we only have one more game before a two week break here in the NHL for the four Nations. So that's gonna be fun. The four nations face off. I think that's gonna be really fun to watch. All of. Just the best on best of those four countries.

But it's also good, as you will hear later in the show, we talked with Jaden Schwartz about everybody getting a chance to like reset, you know, rest up a Little bit both mentally, physically.

I know for me, catching up on just life things, that time is very, very valuable because during the season when you're working every single game and you're, you know, traveling and everything, it's really hard to keep up with basic things like going to the doctor and doing your laundry. And that sounds crazy, but, like, I'm looking forward to that.

But we are going to talk about our plans over the break a little bit later in the episode, but before we get to that, obviously, we're gonna talk about Four nations. We now have. The Seattle Kraken have rather a representative in the Four nations tournament.

Kaapo Kakko, he's been such a fun addition to watch this team. You know, we, we. I feel like, you know, we've talked about him so much on, on the broadcast.

But, JT just what does that kind of opportunity you imagine kind of mean for him? And what have you thought about how he's been playing lately?

JT Brown: 00:09:47

Well, I mean, first, the opportunity, anytime you get to represent your country, it's, you know, a sense of pride and to be able to do that on the big stage.

Obviously, the four teams and, you know, playing the best on best between them and, you know, an opportunity to continue to grow and to get on a, I guess, more than national.

He's been in the national stage already before, but, you know, this is the first time they're doing the Four nations, so it's got to be a special feeling to be able to be picked for your country and, you know, be able to represent them and, you know, just being able to watch him during that time. I think, obviously, if you're going to watch the games, it's going to be a fun thing.

But I think as a, you know, as a Kraken fan, now that you have a vested interest, a player to.

To tune into those games and another reason to watch, you know, it's going to be awesome, obviously, seeing him move over from New York, what that transition was like and getting a new. A new look, right? And a new opportunity with Seattle and to see him flourish in that position.

Obviously this is going to be fun to see him go against the best and see him in that type of competition as well. But, I mean, you just look at what he's been able to do for Seattle since coming over.

He's got five goals, 12 assists, 17 points more than he had in New York with less time. So it's almost like a new lease on life for him. And to be able to refine that game, refine that Confidence.

And we talk all the time on the broadcast, like you said, about how good that line has been, how good he has been and you know, just watching that chemistry flourish. But again, it'd be fun to see, you know, with his country mates and to be able to watch, you know, how he plays in this, in this tournament.

So for me already was going to end up watching, you know, as many games as possible, you know, throughout the break. But at the same time, now that you, you def.

You have a player, it's going to be, you know, even more special to be able to watch and see how he continues to grow. And again, if he does anything like he's been doing in Seattle, I'm sure he's going to be very successful throughout the, the tournament.

But no, he's been fun to watch and a real good move by Ron Francis to be able to pick him up.

Piper Shaw: 00:11:44

I would like to think that there's a renewed confidence perhaps in, you know, the success that he's been having with playing with Matty and Jaden Schwartz and maybe that will carry over a little bit.

I like to think that, like, we've given him a spark here, maybe a little bit in Seattle and then that could help help push him a little bit on, on this stage for us.

JT Brown: 00:12:03

Oh, it's going to be fun.

It's going to be a fun event and again, happy to be able to just sit back and watch and, you know, now have somebody on the Kraken as well to be able to kind of hone in and make sure you focus in on those games as well.

Grant Beery: 00:12:15

Well, I think my job as a producer, I should give people the kind of the administrative information about the tournament in case they want to watch.

Piper Shaw: 00:12:22

Great call.

Grant Beery: 00:12:23

4 Nations Face-Off. It's going to be held in Montreal and Boston starting on Wednesday the 12th. There'll be games on the 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 20th.

You can watch all of them on either TNT or ESPN. ESPN plus looks like there's going to be games on ABC as well.

And if you want to watch Kaapo Kakko, the first chance you will get is going to be Thursday the 13th at 8pm Eastern against the United States and the four teams, in case you haven't been following, Finland, United States, Canada and Sweden. It'll be a round robin tournament with the championship taking place on Thursday the 12th, 20th, so tune in.

We'll also be having a watch party at 32 Bar and Grill as well. So you can watch Kaapo Caco and just go to crackingcommunityiceplex.com for details about that.

Piper Shaw: 00:13:18

And, Grant, you had just shared with me before we started recording that at the watch party, they will be serving salmon soup, allegedly.

Which, for folks who maybe don't know, I know that that is a very popular food in Finland, and I've talked to Ellie Tolvanen about salmon soup multiple times and how it's kind of hard to find in the States and. And all that. And I guess that Chef Brandon learned, not learned how.

I would assume he probably already knew how, but has been making salmon soup for the fins and that they'll be serving it at the watch party. So that's kind of awesome.

Grant Beery: 00:13:50

Yeah, he. He found out that, you know, Kaapo did an interview with KJR and mentioned how much he misses this soup.

So he, Chef Brandon got to work, found a good recipe, and he and his staff put it together and actually got to try some, and it's really, really fantastic. Awesome. So if you're here for the watch party, I would definitely recommend getting a bowl of it because it's really good.

And Kaapo said it's very good, but not as good as his.

Piper Shaw: 00:14:15

So good soup. Good soup.

JT Brown: 00:14:18

Thanks for the invite. I didn't get an invite to try this soup.

Grant Beery: 00:14:20

Oh. I just happened to be walking by the food.

Piper Shaw: 00:14:23

Grant's very popular. He's well connected.

JT Brown: 00:14:25

He's.

Piper Shaw: 00:14:25

He's got the inside track with a lot of folks around here that we are not privileged enough to.

JT Brown: 00:14:29

My phone bill's paid, and I didn't see a text message or a phone call that we were going to be able to try this meal.

Grant Beery: 00:14:36

And, hey, I. I'm moving. Shaking around this building all the time, fixing computers and TVs and stuff like that, and every now and then you run into some soup.

Piper Shaw: 00:14:45

Yeah, good soup. Good soup.

Grant Beery: 00:14:46

Fringe benefit.

JT Brown: 00:14:47

Okay.

Piper Shaw: 00:14:48

Also, everyone, like I mentioned earlier, we did talk with Jaden Schwartz. He talks a little bit about playing with Kaapo Kakko and Matty veneers as well, so I thought he had some good insight there.

So more Kaapo talk later in the pod, but for now, we're going to move into talking about what we are going to be up to over the Four nations break, because it does connect to what we're going to talk about the rest of the podcast here. JT, would you. Would you like to share what your plans are?

JT Brown: 00:15:15

Yes. Lexi, Booker and Lily and I.

So family is going to go down to Disneyland, so we're going to be able to split a little bit of time with Universal, but also Disneyland and then California Adventure. As well. It's a fun, fun experience. Obviously getting to do that again with the, the kids and know that they love it and I love it too.

So it's kind of selfishly, I'm like, yeah, I want to go. Why not? If so, I'm not gonna say no to an opportunity to take a vacation down to Disney. And obviously it's just a lot of fun.

Piper, you and I had already gone this year as well, so. Yeah.

Piper Shaw: 00:15:48

Are you guys grand. Grand Californian?

JT Brown: 00:15:50

Yep.

Piper Shaw: 00:15:51

And then you guys went two years ago or did you just go last year? Last year. Okay.

JT Brown: 00:15:54

Last year. The original plan, though, just based on the schedule after the break was to go to Disney World.

Piper Shaw: 00:16:01

Right.

JT Brown: 00:16:02

Being in Florida after the break, a little bit easier travel wise right after and kind of just have the vacation lead into, you know, coming back from break. But they're not done with the Nintendo like Mario at Disney World yet. At Universal, I think it's like March, I want to say, or somewhere around. No.

Piper Shaw: 00:16:19

So the, the Nintendo Land at Piper's our expert.

JT Brown: 00:16:23

Yeah. So if you don't know, Piper is the resident Disney expert around here, so she knows all the information. So I'm glad to be fact checked here.

Piper Shaw: 00:16:31

Okay.

Well, yeah, so for those of you who don't know, I actually have another podcast that is called where the Magic Happens, which is a theme park podcast.

So where we just talk about like literally theme parks, but also Disney music and Disney history as well as Universal and Universal movies and stuff like that. Like we do like movie reviews, like a whole bunch of stuff. But anyways, point is, yes, I know way too much about niche things like this.

Grant Beery: 00:17:00

Hey, embrace it.

Piper Shaw: 00:17:02

Universal Orlando is building a third park called Epic Universe, which is supposed to open, I believe in June, which is like earlier than it was supposed to. But they have a Nintendo Land coming there.

JT Brown: 00:17:12

June, same thing.

Piper Shaw: 00:17:13

Sure. But they have a Nintendo Land that is coming into that new park. But they already have the Nintendo Land at Universal Hollywood.

But the Nintendo Land in the Orlando park is going to be better. They going to have a Donkey Kong roller coaster where you jump the track and stuff. It's going to be pretty sick.

JT Brown: 00:17:29

Well, with the kids and everything. Right. Like the flight from Seattle to Florida a lot longer if we're not able to do.

You know, obviously Booker would love to be able to go to the Nintendo World and to go to the new rides, the new attractions. And it just didn't work out timing wise. So maybe next year if the Kraken are somewhere on the east coast, maybe that will be the, the option for him.

So Disneyland again, I think even just with the young kids, it's a nice.

Piper Shaw: 00:17:51

That's what I was gonna say is I also think that, like, Disney World and if you're doing Universal, Orlando on top of it, could be. Your kids are still pretty young.

JT Brown: 00:18:00

So I feel like, yeah, they still get tired, obviously.

Piper Shaw: 00:18:02

Yeah. Full day, they'll have a little more stamina.

Grant Beery: 00:18:06

I feel like I'd get really tired too.

JT Brown: 00:18:07

Oh, yeah, that's a lot of.

Piper Shaw: 00:18:08

Well, you train up, right? You train up, you, you walk. You're like, okay, I got to work my way up to be able to walk 20 miles a day. Yeah, that's what I do.

JT Brown: 00:18:17

Pushing the stroller because the kids get tired. Although eventually, I mean, they're getting old enough to ditch the stroller soon. But that's another question down the line.

Piper Shaw: 00:18:25

But yeah.

JT Brown: 00:18:25

How about you, Piper? What are you doing during the break?

Piper Shaw: 00:18:27

Well, so my very best friend on the face of the planet is getting married. She's getting married on February 15. She could not have picked a better day. Literally, smack dab in the middle of this break.

I'm like, maddie, you did this for me. Didn't you know? She did not. But she also, she lives in Florida.

She lives in Boca Raton, but she's getting married in Fort Lauderdale on February 15th. Our first game back from the break is February 22nd against the Florida Panthers in where? Sunrise, Florida. Basically Fort Lauderdale.

So I will be flying out there. I am obviously in her wedding and hanging out with her family and everything.

And then me and my husband are gonna go take the train, the Bright line train up to Orlando. I've got a bunch of friends that live in Orlando too, and we're gonna do some theme park stuff.

But I'm kind of to the point where, like, we don't really like rope drop parks anymore and do like 16 hour days. Because my, my husband also grew up going. I did not grow up going to Disney, but he did. And so he has done everything 10,000 times.

So we're, we've, we're also adults.

So anyways, we booked a bunch of, you know, so we booked a bunch of like dining reservations at really nice restaurants and like going with friends and stuff like that. We are going to go to Universal for a day because he's never ridden the ET ride there because he thought he.

I don't know what he thought it was, but he didn't like it. And then I went and wrote it when I was there in September and I was like, no, this is my new favorite thing.

Grant Beery: 00:19:53

What is the ET Ride.

Piper Shaw: 00:19:54

It's just. It's like. It's the ET Ride. I can't. You were, like, on a bike, and it's like a classic dark ride, but you're, like, floating through it.

But Steven Spielberg actually, like, designed this ride and worked with Universal to make it. So it's very unique.

And they, like, take your name at the beginning, they ask you what your name is, and they give you, like, a name tag, and then they say your name, like, on the right. It's. It's not like. It's like some crazy roller coaster, and it's been there since the 90s, so it's not like. But it's just very awesome.

Plus, I do love Harry Potter. I know you love Harry Potter to JT, So I like. I like hitting the Harry Potter rides.

And we don't go to Universal as much, so I also anticipate that once. Once that third park in Orlando opens up, Universal is going to be probably really expensive and very, very busy. And so I was like, we'll just go.

So we're going to do one day at Epcot, which. Epcot is the best, especially as an adult. It's the best.

And then we're gonna do one day at Universal, and then we will go see Happily Ever after one night, which is the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, because that is my husband's literal favorite thing on the entire planet. We watch it all the time because he turns it on all the time from home. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

He has downloaded the 4K version of the whole show because he's worried that if it ever gets copyright, like, copyrighted or taken off the Internet, that he won't be able to watch it. So he. He has. He has his copy.

Grant Beery: 00:21:21

So some people put up, like, a little, like, fireplace on their tv and they want to relax. You guys do fireworks show?

Piper Shaw: 00:21:28

Well, it's not just about the fireworks. Like, it's about, like, the music and it's like that specific show that he like. It's a show. Oh, yeah.

JT Brown: 00:21:34

It's.

Piper Shaw: 00:21:34

It's like a whole thing. Yeah. It's not just.

You could take the fireworks away, honestly, and it would still be, like, a great show because it's got all these projections and anyways.

Grant Beery: 00:21:41

Oh, cool.

Piper Shaw: 00:21:42

I don't need a. I don't need to nerd about the Nerd out about this any.

JT Brown: 00:21:45

I'm asking. I'm going to ask him about it next time I'm at a men's League game.

Piper Shaw: 00:21:50

Do it.

JT Brown: 00:21:50

I don't know when that's going to be, but when I do see him, I'm going to bring this up.

Piper Shaw: 00:21:55

He is unashamed of it. He is very well.

JT Brown: 00:21:58

I just. I want. I want to see the video. I want to see what it is. I want to see what's behind it. And yeah, a little more insight.

Grant Beery: 00:22:04

Has he been on your other podcast, talked about all this?

Piper Shaw: 00:22:09

Well, so he's not like a host of it. So he has filled in like a couple times when we've had, like, last minute things.

But actually, the day that we are recording this podcast, when I'm done here, I will be recording my other podcast. And we are doing. Because it is February, a match your mate episode or like a Newlyweds episode.

So all of us have our spouses coming on and we are getting quizzed. Like, the other person has to leave the room and it's like, for example, what is Piper's favorite roller coaster? Right.

And then Jake would have to answer that question, and then vice versa. And then it's like, everybody. So then we. Then we swap. So anyways, he will be on the podcast later today. That is not the point.

But, JT, you did mention before how we did go to Disneyland together when we were playing Anaheim. The day before we played Anaheim. We had a great day. That was. That was one of the best days ever. Because it was like, no kids, no one was there.

Like, the park was totally empty. It was like 65 degrees and sunny.

Grant Beery: 00:23:12

Yeah.

Piper Shaw: 00:23:12

With no agenda, Just riffing. It was awesome. Oh, I don't know what JT's doing. He's.

JT Brown: 00:23:20

I had to cough. Oh, I don't have. I don't have a mute button.

Grant Beery: 00:23:23

I got to get you a cough button. You're in.

JT Brown: 00:23:25

Okay. It wasn't 16 hours. And you said we were not doing the 16 hour days. Like 11, though.

Piper Shaw: 00:23:31

True.

JT Brown: 00:23:31

It was still a long day.

Piper Shaw: 00:23:33

Yeah, we got there at like 10. Yeah.

JT Brown: 00:23:35

and: 10:30

Piper Shaw: 00:23:39

Yeah. But we took our time and we did. How many times did we do the Guardians Tower?

JT Brown: 00:23:44

It was twice, for sure. We did Incredicoaster twice. What else did we do? Anything else?

Piper Shaw: 00:23:51

Narrowly beat me in Toy Story Mania.

JT Brown: 00:23:53

Still one.

Piper Shaw: 00:23:54

Narrowly. You were freaking out. You were like, oh, my God, Piper, you're gonna beat me. You're gonna. You couldn't believe it.

JT Brown: 00:23:59

Halfway through. I had to. I had to focus up. I had to be ready to go. I.

Piper Shaw: 00:24:04

You were stressed out.

JT Brown: 00:24:05

I was definitely stressed out halfway through. But yeah, no, I think even one of the best ones was probably soaring though too. We were able to go on that and they all were fun. Yeah.

Piper Shaw: 00:24:14

Okay, so all of this being said, you guys, what we are doing on this episode, because JT and I are both going on somewhat Disney trips over the break here. We have both made lists of 10 Kraken players if they were Disney attractions.

And I decided that I would do Walt Disney World and he's going to do Disneyland just so that they could be a little bit different. And we have different, like, options and different takes. Are you. Are you prepared for this, Grant?

Grant Beery: 00:24:45

No, I have never been to Disneyland Disney World either. Universal Studios. I'm trying to think. I went to a Six Flags in Texas when I was playing.

Piper Shaw: 00:24:55

Oh, my gosh. Okay, well, then we're going to have to do a live podcast recording from the Lamp Light Lounge at Disney California Adventure sometime.

Grant Beery: 00:25:01

Hey, count me in. Let's put it in the budget for next season. We'll make it happen.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:06

We need park hoppers. We.

Grant Beery: 00:25:08

Yep, yep. We're going to need cameras. We all need webcams.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:12

Yeah.

Grant Beery: 00:25:13

So I'm excited to see where this goes.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:15

I feel like you should start, JT Cuz I feel like I've been. I've been rambling for a while.

JT Brown: 00:25:19

Okay, well, I'm going to start. Okay. The first one, Guardians of the Galaxy, is going to be the ride formerly known as the Tower of Terror as well. Do you have any guesses?

I feel like this would be an easy one.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:33

So mission. So Guardians of the Galaxy mission. Breakout.

JT Brown: 00:25:36

She knows the whole. She knows the whole name because there's.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:38

Another Guardians of the Galaxy ride at Disney World. So I just wanted to be clear.

Grant Beery: 00:25:41

Okay.

JT Brown: 00:25:43

All right, I'm just going to give it to you then. All right.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:44

Yeah.

JT Brown: 00:25:45

Big rig.

Piper Shaw: 00:25:46

Big rig.

JT Brown: 00:25:47

Makes sense. Obviously. 6 foot 7, 257. He's a. You could say he's a guardian. Right. For the team as well.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the Guardians of the Galaxy tower is the tallest one. It's 199ft. Because if it goes over 200, they have to put little red blinking light on for flights to know how high it is. But.

So that's why they made it 199. Excuse me? 199. And so, yeah, big towering presence. I think that was an easy one for me to pick out.

The next ride is gonna be the swings or the carousel, which I. You know. The swings. Yeah, the swings ride.

Piper Shaw: 00:26:24

Like the silly symphony swings. Oh, I love those. I've got a good video of me and JT having a blast on the swings.

JT Brown: 00:26:30

It's a classy ride, nothing flashy, but it doesn't ever disappoint as well. So I picked Jaden Schwartz, veteran on the team. Been around the block, knows what he's doing.

It's a consistent ride, but also a consistent player as well.

Grant Beery: 00:26:43

Love it.

JT Brown: 00:26:44

Third one I'm going to pick is Goofy's Flight School.

Piper Shaw: 00:26:47

Goofy Sky School.

JT Brown: 00:26:48

Oh, Sky School.

Piper Shaw: 00:26:50

I mean, it's like the same thing. It's fine. See, I'm not correcting you. It's just that ride is just like.

JT Brown: 00:26:55

It's one. It's okay for me. It's an underrated ride, right? Like, of course you.

Piper Shaw: 00:26:59

It's so of course you like it.

JT Brown: 00:27:01

You're on the edge. It's like flinging around like it's a little bit of a jerky ride, so you might end up hurting your neck if you're not ready or sliding to the sides.

And I picked Tolby as a underrated player. May not get all of the credit, you know, throughout the games. Obviously having himself a great year.

Piper Shaw: 00:27:15

And it's like low key, edgy, but.

JT Brown: 00:27:18

He'S also physical, right? Like he's leading the Kraken when it comes to hits.

So I think of like your body morphing back and forth when you're getting jerked around on the ride. And like, it is a good one. It was a. That was a good one for me. An interesting one. The Incredicoaster.

Piper Shaw: 00:27:33

Okay.

JT Brown: 00:27:34

Is the fourth one. It's a. I think it's a fan favorite ride, right? One of the best rides when you look at California Adventure. Fast. But then also I'm just gonna pick.

It's tanf, right? Like, it's just going 100 miles an hour the whole way. And that's his game. No real other explanation needed for that one.

The fifth is going to be Soarin. What is Soaring around the World? Is that the. The official.

Piper Shaw: 00:27:57

Yeah. They also have a version called Soarin Over California. But we were on Soaring around the World.

JT Brown: 00:28:02

Well, it's a big immersive screen, right? You're traveling around the world. You're getting to see all these different places. And for me, I pick Joey.

I know he likes to use the VR as a sense of warmup and that gives me a little bit of a VR vibe. When you're in the. I mean, you're hanging, gliding, but you got the big screen around you. You feel like you're right in the. The spaces.

But I also think about the journey, right? Like in the. You're going around the world, you're seeing all these different places. But you look at his journey, right?

Like going from the USHL to Arizona State in the ncaa. He's also played in the East Coast League, the American Hockey League, and now obviously that journey to the NHL.

So that ride kind of senses the journey. And you know, I think Decord's journey is a awesome one. Especially when you think about Arizona State and Molotov. I say the place that Joey built.

Piper Shaw: 00:28:49

So yeah, the house that Joey built. Also. Soren's like a classic. Like, I think like people just like it and it ages well and it's like non controversial in any way.

Like all ages can do it. And.

JT Brown: 00:29:00

Yeah, no, I mean, I think so. That was a good one for me. I thought about the VR aspect. The next one would be Smugglers Run.

Oh, first of all, I just love Star wars, so I had to pick a Star wars ride. But so besides that, if never been on, that's more of a team ride, right? Where got people that are flying the plane, you got people in the back.

So everybody's kind of doing their own thing to kind of complete the mission. And for me, I picked Yanni.

Piper Shaw: 00:29:23

Who?

JT Brown: 00:29:23

He's one of those guys. He's a team guy. Every team wants a player like Yanni on their team. And so that's for me why I picked that.

Piper Shaw: 00:29:31

But I love that one.

JT Brown: 00:29:32

I did have an honorable mention for Yanni as well. For me it was It's a Small World. I absolutely hate the song and the characters. Like, it just is annoying to me. Like the song.

Piper Shaw: 00:29:43

I think that's a.

JT Brown: 00:29:43

And then I picked Yanni for that one too because he is extremely annoying to play against out on the ice. Personal experience, having him as a teammate and being played against him, he is definitely annoying.

So not that he's an annoying person, but on the ice, how he plays. For my honorable mention on that one, I went with the Astro Blasters in Toy Story Mania. Got to be a sniper in that one. I came out in the clutch.

I ended up winning, barely, but I still won. It's all about precision. You got to have the quick shot, you got to be ready to go, have the aim. And I picked McCann.

I feel like that was a easy one for me. Obviously. Leeds cracking all time when it comes to goals. He's second or is he third? I think. Or he's got 14 goals this year.

Schwartz is leading with 18. But overall, his body of work, especially in a Kraken uniform, definitely, you know, at the top of the list when it comes to scoring.

So I thought that, you know, the sniper aspect of those two is definitely a McCann. For me, this one, Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully.

Piper Shaw: 00:30:44

Is that.

JT Brown: 00:30:45

What's the. What's the full name on that one?

Piper Shaw: 00:30:46

You know, I think it's Mike and Sully to the rescue.

JT Brown: 00:30:49

Yeah, I knew something about Rescue Seed. This is why. Why it's good to have you. I'm picking Shane for no other reason. That Mike and Sully is my favorite kids ride. Love that movie.

And yes, I know he's an adult, but he's. But he's. But he's the youngest on the team when it comes to that.

So I picked him just because it was the young and, you know, the combination between my favorite kid ride and the youngest on the Kraken. Last. Oh, no, it's not last. I got two more Radiator Springs.

Piper Shaw: 00:31:16

Oh, Radiator Springs. Razor is good right now.

JT Brown: 00:31:18

The line is terrible at that ride at times. Unless you do it.

Piper Shaw: 00:31:21

We got lucky.

JT Brown: 00:31:22

We did solo riders.

Grant Beery: 00:31:23

Okay.

JT Brown: 00:31:24

But then they put us in the same cart.

Piper Shaw: 00:31:25

Yeah. We got really.

JT Brown: 00:31:26

I don't know how that happened.

Piper Shaw: 00:31:27

And there is a hilarious picture on my Instagram if you go looking for it, of the ride photo of me and JT on it. We are both making the most ridiculous pieces.

JT Brown: 00:31:35

I mean, I think for me, when I think about that ride and when we're on that ride, it's just pure fun and enjoyment. Obviously, there's great views, but it just puts a smile. You're smiling the whole time. You're going through, up and down the valleys. It's a.

I mean, it's fast, but not obviously like a credit coaster fast. But I picked Monty. Like, I just picture, like, him skating around in warmups, which you get to see as well. Always has a smile on his face.

He's zooming around. Whether he gets on the plane, you know, he's always smiling as well, but then, you know, even practice bringing that energy.

So that, for me, was a of my favorite rides. But also I feel like it translated to, like, kind of Monty's personality as well.

Piper Shaw: 00:32:08

There's a little bit of thrill, but it's not a thrill ride. It's not at all a thrill ride, but it has, like, it is exciting and it's just a little bit flashy, but it's not. It's not a thrill ride.

JT Brown: 00:32:17

It's not perfect, but. And then the Last one I did, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Piper Shaw: 00:32:23

I love that ride. That's one of my favorites.

JT Brown: 00:32:25

The wild ride is the part, and technically not a player, but it's still part of the organization. I'm going to have Buoy. I mean, it's a wild ride.

Obviously, we see Buoy in the stands, all of the antics that Buoy gets up to, and whether it's pulling out the teeth, messing with the opposing team fans as well. And I just thought that that kind of encapsulated our Buoy. It was the first thing I thought.

Grant Beery: 00:32:53

Bit of a stretch with that one. What? It's not a player.

Piper Shaw: 00:32:57

Okay, Okay. I. I like it. I like it.

JT Brown: 00:32:59

And I will say Booker. When Booker has asked his favorite player on the Kraken, he says Buoy. So there we go. Just saying.

Okay, did that one for Booker, then shout out Booker. So those were my 10. And I'm actually glad I got to go first because I feel like your list is going to be very good.

Piper Shaw: 00:33:17

Oh, I don't know.

JT Brown: 00:33:18

I thought I. You know, it took a while to think these ones out. I thought I did a. I'd give myself like a seven and a half on my list.

Piper Shaw: 00:33:25

I think it's great. I think you have a great list. In fact, like, you've made me think a little bit. I'm like, that's some good reasoning there. Some good reasoning.

Grant Beery: 00:33:33

All right. The photo of you two on this ride that you were talking about is great. I don't know what's better, your face, JT or your hair wiper.

Piper Shaw: 00:33:42

I know it's crazy, but we're both having the time of our life.

Grant Beery: 00:33:45

Oh, no. You look like the happiest people in the world right there.

Piper Shaw: 00:33:48

I gotta find the video of us on the swings, too. We're literally just going around on the swings, just like the biggest grins, just like a couple of kids.

Grant Beery: 00:33:56

Love it.

Piper Shaw: 00:33:56

That's what Disney's all about. Oh, and there's the incredicoaster picture, which does go hard.

Grant Beery: 00:34:00

Yeah.

Piper Shaw: 00:34:00

J.T. and I had to do it again and request the front row so that we could get a picture where we were like, front and center. It's a great picture.

You see it?

JT Brown: 00:34:08

I'm good.

Grant Beery: 00:34:09

I'm gonna say, though, Piper, remember, coordinated.

JT Brown: 00:34:11

You said, you're like, oh, it's on this turn. And then it wasn't on that turn. It was after that. So I wasn't ready in the first picture.

Piper Shaw: 00:34:18

Gt Are you really gonna chirp me for not knowing something that detailed about the Disney Parks? You know how many questions you asked me when we were walking around? You're like, what's that? What's that?

And I had everything, but not the one camera. And you're never going to let me live it down.

Grant Beery: 00:34:32

You've set a precedent. I mean, been right on everything else.

JT Brown: 00:34:36

It's going to be on the second to last turn as you go down, and I'm like, oh, I'm ready. And then it didn't happen. And then you were saying something, I think you were saying, it's actually on this one.

And I turned to look at you, so I'm not even, like, paying attention because I couldn't, you know, it's going fast. You can't really hear what she was saying. And then the picture I saw the flashes go on. I'm like, oh, yeah, we missed that.

We're going to have to hit this ride one more time.

Piper Shaw: 00:34:56

But the picture we did get is awesome.

Grant Beery: 00:34:58

It's very good.

Piper Shaw: 00:34:59

Yeah. Anyway.

JT Brown: 00:35:01

All right, your list.

Piper Shaw: 00:35:02

Okay, my list. I feel like you had really, really, really good reasonings for these. So let's see if hopefully I can hold a candle here.

So I'm going to start with one, which a lot of people might. If you're not, like, a hardcore Disney fan, you might not care about this attraction. And also, keep in mind, I'm going Walt Dis.

So JT did Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. I got all of Walt Disney World to work with, which does give me more options, you know.

So I'm going to start with the Captain, Jordan Eberly, and I am going to make Jordan Eberly the Carousel of Progress. If you don't know what this attraction is, it is a Walt Disney original attraction.

They made it for the World's Fair, and it essentially is like this theater that rotates and it has this Sherman Brothers song, which is very iconic. It's a great big beautiful tomorrow. It's like this very Disney.

But it's all about how technology and communication have, like, evolved throughout the years. And you kind of follow this family through.

But it's still a very, very popular attraction with people who love Disney and know things about Disney because of the spirit of what it represents. And for a lot of people, like, it gets better and better and better as it kind of ages because it's so iconic and it's. And to me, like, it's.

It's a Walt original. I feel like that's kind of like Jordan in the sense, like, he's the captain and he.

As, you know, and similarly, as what we'll hear from, like, Jaden Schwartz.

Like, Jordan has made such an effort to always find ways to level up his game and to, like, stay relevant and stay strong and stay, you know, contributing. Plus, he's. He's, like. He's the captain, and that's, like, a classic. He's an original Kraken. So I like that in the Carousel of Progress, I get that.

Jordan Everly's career, in a way, if.

JT Brown: 00:36:43

You stay like this, it's going to be very well, because, I don't know. I don't remember that ride. I've been to World. That's been a while. But your explanation had me believing every second of why you chose Everly.

So A plus on the first one.

Grant Beery: 00:36:55

I thought yours was really insightful, but I think we're.

JT Brown: 00:36:57

Oh, she knew everything about.

Grant Beery: 00:36:59

We're in for a treat here. We're in for a treat.

JT Brown: 00:37:02

That was a good first one. You got a lot to live up to after that one, though.

Piper Shaw: 00:37:04

Okay, well, I'm gonna start with my ones I think are the strongest.

Okay, so my next one, I'm gonna go with Adam Larson, and I'm making Adam Larson the monorail, which is not just an attraction, but it is a very important way.

Like, you might not think of this as, like, a flashy ride, but it actually serves a very, very important function for everybody that goes to, like, Walt Disney World. It's also been there from the beginning, just like Adam Larson, and it is very popular.

Although, like I said, like, it's not, like, you don't think of it maybe as, like, oh, this is. This is my. My favorite ride. But, like, you need this ride, and you love this ride, and you never want anything to, like, happen to it.

And that's, like. It's reliable and also an og. Well done and very, like, innovative. So the monorail, I'm going to go to a whole different world here with this one.

This is my number three. Brandon Montour. I am making Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, which is the newest attraction at Walt Disney World.

It is at Epcot, and it was a very, very big deal because they wanted to have, like, a thrill ride at Epcot, because that's not exactly, like, Epcot's thing, right? So it is an awesome roller coaster. It's kind of like Space Mountain, except for the. The carts actually, like, turn. It's hard to. It's hard to explain.

But also the song changes. So they've got, like, seven or eight different songs, and you don't know what song it's going to be when you get on the ride.

So it could be like, Conga is one of the songs. September by Earth, Wind Fire is one of the songs. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is one of the songs.

Disco Inferno, like, there's all these songs, right? And Monty is not only the locker room dj, but he is a new addition to the team. That has been so much fun and a big, big splash.

And that's exactly what this ride has done for Walt Disney World and for Epcot. So, anyways, it's extremely popular. A lot of people think it's the best ride that has ever been built ever. I do not necessarily agree with that.

That has nothing to do with Monty, But a lot of people think it's like, that. Awesome.

So, anyway, yeah, cosmic rewind, and then I'll stay in this vein, but okay, so my next person is Chandler Stevenson, and I'm going to make him Kilimanjaro Safaris, which is a ride at Animal Kingdom. It's actually not really.

It's not a ride, it's an attraction, but it is, like, 25 minutes long, and you actually get to get, like, up close and personal with a bunch of animals. But the reason that I picked this is because it's, like I said, it doesn't maybe seem like, oh, that would be, like, my number one, like, priority.

But it is one of the, like, quietly, one of the best attractions that there is. It's very impressive in ways that maybe you don't think of as being the most, you know, flashy as well, if that kind of makes sense.

And I feel like Stevie, you know, a lot of people don't maybe see on the surface level what makes him so good and so valuable and so important. I do think a lot of folks are starting to see that more and more and more.

But Kilimanjaro Safaris is, like, one of my, like, favorite attractions because it's unique and it's awesome. And.

JT Brown: 00:40:21

Yeah, I think that's a good. I think that was a good one.

Grant Beery: 00:40:23

Yeah.

Piper Shaw: 00:40:24

Yeah. Have you ever done. Have you ever done that one?

JT Brown: 00:40:26

I haven't done it, but again, your explanations are so good. I believe it.

Piper Shaw: 00:40:30

Okay.

Grant Beery: 00:40:31

Real animals.

Piper Shaw: 00:40:32

Yeah, real animals. And it's literally like, it's like, 25 minutes. And, I mean, you'll sometimes get, like, held up because the giraffes are, like, in your.

Like, in the road, and you just have to sit there until the giraffes.

Grant Beery: 00:40:42

Move, which sounds fun.

Piper Shaw: 00:40:43

That has nothing to do with Stevie at all, but it's Just like robot animals.

Grant Beery: 00:40:48

I mean isn't a lot of that stuff.

Piper Shaw: 00:40:49

They have elephants, they have lions, they have white rhinos and it's like this big like conservation thing too. I don't need to talk, I don't need to like go on and on about.

Grant Beery: 00:41:00

Yeah, the hall of Presidents doesn't have real presidents, they're all robots. So.

Piper Shaw: 00:41:05

Well like the Jungle Cruise has animatronic animals but no killer Manjaro Safaris has real animals. They have cheetahs, like big. It's awesome. It's very awesome. But a lot of people like don't even, they don't even really pay attention to it.

They don't really like, you know, and they'll see like oh, it has a 90 minute wait. It's like well first of all it's a 25 minute ride or attraction and it's awesome and it's one of a kind.

So anyway, next I am going to go to Vince Dunn and Vince Dunn is Rock and Roller Coaster. I just think you know, Vince is obviously a player that brings a lot of emotion to his game and a very like dynamic player. Just like fun to watch.

And rockin Roller Coaster. I mean literally it's like rockin because of the music but it also Vince Dunn has been known to rock out on the ice. One could say so.

JT Brown: 00:41:58

Agreed.

Piper Shaw: 00:41:59

Yeah. So there we go with that one. Next one I have Shane Wright as Flight of Passage. Flight of Passage is one of my favorite rides of all time.

It is at Animal Kingdom in the Avatar land of Pandora and it is a simulator ride, kind of like Soarin except for you're on like these bikes and you have these like 3D glasses. It's one of a kind but it has, it is a ride that a lot of people were a little like unsure of at first and is now a hit, huge hit.

And it's already been out for like a decade now and it's still one of the most popular rides ever. And it like it just. Even people who think that they are unsure about it or aren't like they're just not sure what they're gonna expect with rocks.

And I think that's kind of like, I think Shane is somebody that is going to be with this team and is a important part of this team and a very like the future's bright, you know what I mean? And I think that's kind of what that that ride represents as well. So yeah, how many have I done? I'm like, I don't have my numbered here.

So I'M like, like, I. I got a whole list here.

JT Brown: 00:43:09

Yeah, I started counting mine, and then halfway through, I just stopped with the numbers, but I did 10, so I think you're probably at like, 5, 6.

Piper Shaw: 00:43:15

Yeah, hold on. I got. I just. I wrote, like, more than.

Grant Beery: 00:43:18

So engrossed that I lost count, so.

Piper Shaw: 00:43:21

Okay, my next one. So this is number eight. Number eight. I have Jamie Alexiak as Living with the Land.

Living with the Land is also one of my very favorite attractions that is at Epcot.

It is like an edutainment boat ride, basically, and it goes through, like, this greenhouse and stuff, but it's all about, like, nature, and Jamie Lexiak loves nature. So this is a little bit more about the person rather than, like the player, you know, but he. He loves nature, and it's.

It's like a low key, awesome ride. And to me, also, I think that ride really represents, like, what Epcot was originally kind of supposed to be about, which is part of why I love it.

And Jamie's also, like, an original Kraken, and that's an original Epcot attraction, so I felt like that one made sense there. And then number nine, I have Brandon Taniv as the Haunted Mansion. I. I mean, the Ghost Eyes Fair, the headshot, you know, also the Haunted Mansion.

I don't.

I believe it's not an original, like, opening day attraction, but it is a very much, like, early attraction and like, a hallmark attraction of all Disney parks. And he is an original Kraken. So I also feel like that one fit as well. And then obviously, yeah, the ghost. The ghost headshot. And then.

Okay, so I might have. Okay, I'm gonna have 11. That's hopefully. That's okay.

JT Brown: 00:44:41

Oh, that's okay.

Piper Shaw: 00:44:42

Okay. And then for Oliver Bjorkstrand, I have Toy Story Mania. You had that one for Jared McCann. Similar, though.

Just like, it's all about, like, sharp shooting accuracy, great shot. So I went Toy Story Mania.

And then last but not least, I have Maddie Veneers as Happily Ever after, which is that big fireworks show that I was talking about. It is one of the most, you know, cherished things of people, like, who love Walt Disney World.

When they got rid of this show for the 50th anniversary, people, like, rioted, and they ended up bringing it back, which is not something that most, like, big corporations would ever do, but it is, like, when you think of Disney, like, you think of an experience like this, you think of the music and all of that. And I think when you think of the Kraken, you Think of Matty Beniers, you know, or for. For the future. Absolutely.

So I wanted, like, you know, Maddie and Shane, as kind of our young guys to like, represent, like, the future of, like, the Hallmark attractions as well as, like, the kind of, like, the history and like, the brand identity in that way, if that kind of makes sense. Sense.

JT Brown: 00:45:53

10 out of 10 for me. I. That was an awesome list. I think all of them were perfect. I. Even Maddie was one of my favorite ones. I like that one. And then maybe the safari ride.

I think that might be my second. There's some really good ones.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:08

It's hard to explain the safari one if you haven't done it, because it's. There's just an energy about it that is just. I'm like, that's Stevie. That's Stevie.

JT Brown: 00:46:16

It's calming one. Like, they're.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:18

It's calming, but it's awesome. You're just like, oh, my God.

Like, you're just like, looking at these animals that they're not out in the wild, but they're not in, like, a zoo, you know, and it's just like. Like, this is so exciting in a very calming way. And I like, feel like that's, like, Stevie's energy, so.

JT Brown: 00:46:34

Oh, that was very good list.

Grant Beery: 00:46:35

Yeah. I. As somebody who doesn't know anything about any of these theme parks, any of these rides, I feel like I got good explanation.

So thanks for letting me into your world.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:44

It's. You need to ride someday. Flight of Passage at the Animal Kingdom.

Grant Beery: 00:46:48

Okay.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:48

It's such an incredible.

Grant Beery: 00:46:50

The progress one sounds.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:52

The carousel of.

Grant Beery: 00:46:53

Really up my alley. Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun.

Piper Shaw: 00:46:55

It's kind of like a show and an attraction because it's like a theater that, like, spins.

Grant Beery: 00:46:59

But is that, like, the beginning of Jurassic park where they're going through how dino DNA is made, and it's like the whole room spins and you kind of see what they're doing in different.

Piper Shaw: 00:47:07

Labs, actually, kind of.

Grant Beery: 00:47:08

Yeah, that's the. That's the image I got in my mind.

Piper Shaw: 00:47:11

It is kind of like that.

And it's also interesting because they've picked up the Carousel of Progress and, like, moved it across the country multiple times because they built it to be at the World's Fair and then it was in Disneyland for a while. But, yeah, it's in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom now.

Grant Beery: 00:47:23

So neat.

Piper Shaw: 00:47:24

Anyway.

And people get a little up in arms when they talk about, like, renovating it or, like, updating it, because the last show scene, which is supposed to be, like, modern Day is. So it's a little whack because they have, like, talking. Like, the oven is, like, talking, and they have, like, VR headsets.

But it looks like it's like the 70s, because when they made was the future, you know? But then if you actually try to, like, update it with, like, cell phones and stuff, then people like, well, hey.

Grant Beery: 00:47:50

We could talk to refrigerators.

Piper Shaw: 00:47:51

I mean, I know, but it's like, do you update it to be accurate to the times or leave it? Because it's a Walt original? That's where people get a little, like, don't update it. The progress stopped. They're like, we're good.

Grant Beery: 00:48:02

It's fun to look back at, like, the. The optimism of what people thought the future was going to bring as far as technology goes, and the idea of a talking oven.

And now we just, you know, our fridge tells us when we're out of milk. So it's pretty close.

Piper Shaw: 00:48:16

Yeah, it. It is. It is close. It's just a little. It's like a little bit like Cany Valley.

Grant Beery: 00:48:21

A little bit.

Piper Shaw: 00:48:21

You're like, okay, well, you're. You're. You're near it.

JT Brown: 00:48:25

But anyway, anyway, I'm still thinking about the talking fridge. All right. I don't know. My fridge does not tell me that I need more milk.

Grant Beery: 00:48:33

Have you not seen this?

JT Brown: 00:48:34

No.

Grant Beery: 00:48:34

You can get a fridge with a screen on the front of it, and it'll tell you, like, it looks inside at the things that are in your fridge and says, hey, you're almost out of milk.

Piper Shaw: 00:48:42

I don't want any more screens. I'm done with screens. I would like a flip phone. I don't want any more emails. I don't want any more apps. People are like, oh, did you see?

No, I didn't. I. If it was online, I did not see it, and I don't want to see it.

Grant Beery: 00:48:54

But you. You want a podcast app, right? So you can download signals from the deep, right?

Piper Shaw: 00:48:58

Well, I just use Spotify for podcasts and also for music, and that is.

Grant Beery: 00:49:02

A good app, and that's the shameless plug I'll give. So. Right there.

Piper Shaw: 00:49:06

Yeah, I actually love podcasts.

I mean, that's, like, a main way that I like to get information and, like, stay up to date with things, because I don't need to be on a screen to do it, and I can do other things while I get that information. But anyway, I hope everybody enjoyed this.

I know it was a little bit different, but we figured with the break, we would do something a little bit fun and kind of connected, so I know. I feel like I feel wrong having talked about Disney so much on this podcast, to be honest myself.

Grant Beery: 00:49:36

Well, it's colliding.

Piper Shaw: 00:49:37

I know. A little bit. A little bit. All right, any. Any final thoughts on Four nations plans? Grant, are you doing anything over the break?

Grant Beery: 00:49:45

So I will definitely be working one of the weeks, you know, when you guys are all out of town, that's when the IT department gets to do all our fun projects where we fix everything while nobody's here. So I'll have a week on and a week off, but my wife and I our seventh wedding anniversary is coming up, and so we're gonna head up to Victoria for a few days and just kind of enjoy ourselves up there. I've never been. She used to go a lot when she was younger, so it'll be a new experience for me, which I'm very excited about.

Piper Shaw: 00:50:13

Any theme parks there? Just kidding.

Grant Beery: 00:50:17

There's apparently some really cool English pubs that were in. One of them's haunted, so we're gonna go there. So.

JT Brown: 00:50:21

Wow.

Piper Shaw: 00:50:21

Like the old Rose and Crown and the World showcase at Epcot's and full circle here. Me and Jake will definitely be at the Rosie Crown. English puppet Epcot. But anyway, I love it.

So, with all that being said, we're going to transition now into the interview that we had with Jaden Schwartz. Jaden was awesome and super casual. I think it was nice to.

It's been nice to get interviews with the players kind of in this setting where it's not like hockey, hockey, hockey, and we're not all in the locker room and have places to be and things to do. So it was a nice conversation with Jaden Schwartz. Enjoy. Well, welcome to the show, Jaden. We're very happy to have you here on Signals from the Deep.

We've been trying to get you on the show for a while, so this feels like a big catch now.

Jaden Schwartz: 00:51:09

Yeah, you guys are busy. I mean, we're busy. You couldn't squeeze me in, so I'm glad it worked out.

Piper Shaw: 00:51:17

So I just wanted to start this by kind of starting from the beginning.

Obviously, you chose to sign with Seattle when it was a brand new organization, never played a game, you know, no expectations, plus, like a pandemic going on, all those things. What was that moment like for you in your career and kind of what went into deciding to join a brand new franchise?

Jaden Schwartz: 00:51:37

Yeah, I mean, it was a big change. Obviously. I was in St. Louis my whole career and had some great, you know, times there.

Great Memories, you know, had some incredible teammates, such an awesome place, you know, met so many amazing people, and then, you know, in my personal life was going through a hard time with, you know, everything that happened.

So I was, you know, in a pretty tough spot mentally, and, you know, I was excited for, you know, a new opportunity and had a lot of faith in Ronnie, and I just thought the whole opportunity was coming somewhere new, you know, and the buzz around it and meeting new people and, you know, obviously it was a big change going somewhere new, switching cities where you don't really know a whole lot of people. So, you know, it was a little bit difficult at first, but, you know, it's been awesome for me. I've really enjoyed my time here.

I met some incredible people here, and, you know, obviously we had a pretty amazing run there in the second year and haven't quite gotten back to that point, but, you know, I have some ups and downs, and we're continuing to grow and learn as a group, but, yeah, I've been really thankful for, you know, each opportunity I've gotten so far.

Piper Shaw: 00:52:47

Has it been nice to have Vince Dunn come with you through this process, too?

Jaden Schwartz: 00:52:51

Yeah, Vince is awesome. He's became a good friend of mine and got to see him as a.

Just a young guy coming up and, you know, been on his team, you know, since he's been in the league.

So you can see it's been fun to see his personal game grow, you know, how good he is, and then also meeting, you know, a lot of other great, great people around here in the organization, on the team. It's been fun.

JT Brown: 00:53:12

It's been good to see your success so far this year. First on the team in goals, third in points with 36. And you've been doing this for a while. I've been able to find success.

In your 14th season in the National Hockey League.

Is there anything different, I guess, that you've started to do as far as, like, training or what can you attribute, you know, to your success this late in your career and continuing to find, you know, that consistency throughout in the NHL?

Jaden Schwartz: 00:53:37

Yeah, I think it's something you. You kind of learn as you go a little bit.

Obviously, you can talk to, you know, teammates, but definitely, as you get older, you kind of got to approach things a little bit different with your training and, you know, how you look after yourself.

And, you know, I've had to make some adjustments as far as that, but, yeah, just continue to, you know, work and grow, and I got a lot of young guys around me now to Keep me feeling young. But yeah, I just had this year. Obviously physically I haven't had, you know, injuries.

I haven't been dinged up as much, you know, which helps whenever you're missing time, it's always a little bit challenging coming back. So I think mentally that goes hand in hand as well.

So, you know, I'm feeling healthy, which has been good and just enjoying the day to day process and you know, having fun. But certainly the, the training and you know, your diet and little things like that you definitely have to be aware of for sure.

JT Brown: 00:54:34

I know it's been fun to, to watch you in a sense that we know what we're going to get when we see you go in from a game to game situation trying to find that consistency and how you play a lot of it is a straightforward game.

But you know, every now and then too you throw in the flash, which is, it's awesome to see whether it's, you know, the short angled goals or a nice move, you know, right at the blue line. So you get a little bit of that, hey, I can still do this.

But at the same time, like you're that old veteran that knows the game, that's played the game and obviously you know how to prepare and to get yourself ready for every single game because it shows out on the ice with that consistency, you know, not having those big ups and downs or swings that way, which has been fun to see. And obviously the numbers are, they're proven it right. They're proven that you can go out there and continue to do it.

And you had mentioned the, the run with St.

Louis and kind of wanted to ask you about that and your experience and I guess what that, what you can bring to the Seattle locker room as a leader, you know, as a veteran on this team and how you can use that experience from going, you know, one of the, I think it was the last place team in January and obviously going on an incredible run. And I think everybody thinks that Seattle could be in a different spot right now.

They're, you're at where you're at seventh right now in the wild card. But how can that experience help you but also your teammates, you know, in the locker room.

Jaden Schwartz: 00:55:49

Yeah, I think, you know, as a young guy coming to league, I had a lot of good veterans around me to, to lean on and learn from. So I was pretty blessed with that to, you know, watch how they approach games and practices. And every year is a little bit different.

You know, we had some other good teams and playoff runs where we didn't quite get over that hump. But yeah, we were in obviously a position that doesn't happen too often, but I think it was just.

Just a belief in each other and everyone buying into, you know, to that team game and, you know, call it pulling on the same rope and really just buying into the team game and, you know, realizing that our potential was. Was a lot higher. We just had to be way more consistent. We just needed basically everyone to.

To be better and, you know, momentum and, you know, in sports and team game is obviously huge. And, you know, it kind of, you know, builds confidence and it builds that belief.

So you kind of have to just, you know, dig in together and make sure you're on the same page. And you never know what can happen in this league.

You see teams, you know, we just played Detroit, I think they're on a, you know, seven or eight game run and probably, I don't know what the wild card spots at, but they're probably right in the mix again. So things happen pretty fast, you know, one way or another. So you just got to make sure you're doing your part and, you know, not.

Not lose that belief and just realize, you know, when you're on top of your game and we're playing our game, we could beat anyone. We just got to be more consistent.

JT Brown: 00:57:20

Yeah, no, 100%. We've seen that with Detroit. They were at, I think it was Christmas time.

They were 29 points, and since then they've been able to get 31 and they're sitting in the first wild card spot in the East. So a big turnaround.

Obviously, the belief is a big thing, and again, having that leadership, that the Kraken do have it, obviously anything can turn around, but it's all about that, you know, that next game mentality. Not looking too far ahead, I think.

Jaden Schwartz: 00:57:43

Yeah, for sure. I think we're. We got the break coming up, so it's kind of a little bit weird for everyone. A couple week breaks. We got.

Want to take advantage of the two games. Obviously, every, every game's important and then everyone's going to be, you know, refreshed, get some rest and, you know, be ready for.

We got a lot of games in March, so it'll be, it'll be fun to just, you know, play a lot of games and get that push. And that's, you know, that's the funnest time of the year is when you're, you know, every game means. Means so much.

Piper Shaw: 00:58:12

I want to go back to something that you were talking about earlier, a Little bit how when you were a young guy, leaning on the veterans in the room, kind of learning what it took to be a leader.

And now the tables have turned a little bit, and, you know, Matty Veneer, specifically somebody that you've seen just, you know, his career from the very beginning, now you're more in that veteran leadership position. How have you seen his confidence on the ice, but also in the room and kind of finding his voice develop, particularly, like, this year?

Jaden Schwartz: 00:58:37

Yeah. Yeah, he's been. He's been great. I mean, you can tell he's getting more confident. You know, you could tell how much he cares and you know, how.

How seriously he takes it. He likes to have fun, too, obviously, with the guys and around the rink, but he.

He really cares about the game and cares about the team, so he's a big piece for us. And, you know, as a young guy, you're. Oh, I mean, throughout your whole career, you're gonna have ups and downs, right?

Like, things are gonna come sometimes a little bit easier than others, and there'll be ups and downs. But he's a guy who's continued to keep that work ethic, whether they're going good or, you know, maybe bounces aren't coming as easy.

He's a guy that continues to do the little things you can see in his game. He takes pride in little things, you know, that it takes to win. And he's just a great teammate, a great kid.

It's fun to watch him grow, you know, as a player and as a leader, and I think Seattle's very lucky to have him, and you can kind of see his energy and, you know, go. Wears off on other guys, too.

Grant Beery: 00:59:35

Do you. Do you use any. Any kind of insight or anything that maybe you got from your brother when you were playing together in. In Colorado?

Like, has he influenced the way that you maybe kind of play with some of the younger guys?

Jaden Schwartz: 00:59:51

Yeah, I mean, my whole career, I was kind of, you know, I played with age groups up for the most part, so I was usually one of the younger guys.

So I was, you know, always aware of how the older guys approach things and what made them successful, you know, both on and off the ice and how they played. So I was always, you know, respected those guys a lot and tried to learn as much as I could. And, you know, my brother was the same way. He was very.

He was a very focused guy. You know, I always appreciated, you know, how he.

Obviously, he was an offensive guy, but he took care of other areas of the ice and whether it's defensively or PK or just doing. Doing the little things like I talked about. So he's another guy that always respected and how he played on the broadcast.

JT Brown: 01:00:39

We've talked about your line and how well you guys have come together and just maybe wanted to get your perspective. You know, I think we all have our opinions on, you know, what makes you guys such a good line.

But you know, from your perspective, playing with Matty and Cocko as well, what makes you guys so successful? And you know, obviously it's not always just about the points, but it's great when that happens. But how are you guys been able to find that success?

And you know, what is your guess identity as a line like, or how do you guys see each other out there on the ice?

Jaden Schwartz: 01:01:09

Yeah, I think Both their hockey IQs are very high. They're both, you know, very smart players. They know where to be on the ice and, you know, they're. They're offensive guys.

Like, they're very skilled, but I really like how. How they put the work in first. They're. They go to the hard areas to score. You know, they back, back, check diligently.

They're, you know, they take care of the little things and, you know, they care about. They care about those little things. And it's fun to. Fun to watch and just easy to read off of.

They're guys that like to move the puck and then get their, you know, move their feet and get open, and I think we just move the puck at the right time. Like, we don't. I don't. We don't really hang on to it too long. So they're just. Sometimes it's kind of hard to explain with. With players.

You just kind of read them, you know what they're thinking and what they're doing, and it's been fun to play with those guys. They work hard, and I think they play the game the right way.

JT Brown: 01:02:09

I have a non hockey question.

Piper Shaw: 01:02:11

I was gonna say.

JT Brown: 01:02:13

First also. I'm just gonna go to golf. What's your handicap? Is first question. And number two, how come you haven't invited me to come play golf yet?

Jaden Schwartz: 01:02:24

You haven't invited me. Come play golf at your course.

Piper Shaw: 01:02:28

Shots fired.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:02:29

You're a member.

Piper Shaw: 01:02:30

JT's blushing.

JT Brown: 01:02:31

Fair.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:02:32

And I don't know if I can.

JT Brown: 01:02:34

Share my handicap because going up, going the wrong way.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:02:38

Well, depends who I play, because some guys I play, they don't. They're.

They kind of sandbagged their handicap a little bit too, so I kind of change mine depending on what they say a little bit, but it's roughly around like 6, 7, or 8, depending on. I was gonna say on the time of the year.

Piper Shaw: 01:02:53

Everyone that I've talked to on the team says that you're by far the best golfer on the team.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:02:56

No, that's. That's definitely not true.

Piper Shaw: 01:02:58

Are they. They're chirping you, then you think they're just being circular.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:03:01

They're probably just saying that. I can. I could name a few others. Well, it depends on the day. Yeah, we can shoot anywhere from. Yeah. High 70s to 90s, depending on the day.

But Eberle's really good, Burkovsky's good. Hits the ball a long way. The can's good.

Piper Shaw: 01:03:23

I think Berkey definitely has told me that you're the best golfer on the team. He's for sure told me that.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:03:27

Well, we're usually partners, so he kind of has to say that. Yes. To say that about me.

JT Brown: 01:03:32

All right, well, since you brought it up, who is the one that's sandbagging on the team when it comes to. When we're talking about the handicaps? Who would be that guy?

Jaden Schwartz: 01:03:42

Well, I would almost say all of them.

JT Brown: 01:03:47

All right, fair enough.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:03:48

Yeah, you got to keep an eye on those guys. Tandem's pretty good too. Forgot about him. Dunn's a guy who's better than his handicap.

JT Brown: 01:03:57

Okay.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:03:57

He's. He's pretty good.

JT Brown: 01:04:00

So.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:04:00

Yeah, it's always. I don't know if everyone's plugging their scores in all the time, not putting.

JT Brown: 01:04:05

In all of them. All right, well, at least we have it on the podcast. I'll take you out to my course. You got to take me to your course.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:04:11

Okay. I haven't played yours, but I heard it's nice.

Grant Beery: 01:04:14

You think you can hang with the.

JT Brown: 01:04:16

Yeah, I'm right around the same. I think I. I ended last year like a 8 point something, so right around.

Piper Shaw: 01:04:21

All right, you got your fancy new clubs too, that you're all excited about.

JT Brown: 01:04:24

I got another seven.

Piper Shaw: 01:04:25

You got another.

JT Brown: 01:04:26

Yeah, I.

Well, I had the Mizuno 240s, the Masters editions, so they're like, kind of like a greenish like chrome finish, but when you play with blades, when you're on, you're on, and when you're not on, you're not on. So I am. I got the seven 70s, so I ordered.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:04:42

I couldn't believe you're seven blades.

JT Brown: 01:04:43

When I hit them good there, it's really good. When I don't hit them, it turns south real quick, so definitely look at.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:04:50

Those things I shouldn't.

JT Brown: 01:04:51

I got a little too confident in my. My golf game. And then I got humbled a little bit. But I'm gonna keep them. Just keep them. But at the end of the day, yeah, I ended up getting the 770s.

Piper Shaw: 01:05:00

Nice.

JT Brown: 01:05:01

One last thing before we let you go as well, I just want to let you know that I'm gonna get you back. All right. I don't know if everybody has seen this yet. It was on the broadcast down in warm ups before the game was getting going. I just got doing my.

Got done doing my hit for the pregame show. And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this just spray of water comes flying. Hit right in the face, right on the side of my shoulder.

Suits all wet now. And I look over and who is it? It's Schwartzy just laughing.

Piper Shaw: 01:05:30

You come for his suits?

JT Brown: 01:05:32

I mean, he got me trouble. Thankfully, we weren't on when you did it. That would have definitely thrown me off. I was happy that at least it was after the. The hit was done.

But I'm still thinking of how I'm going to get you back. So I want you to be on edge, and at some point, I'm going to maybe not return the favor in the exact same way, but I'm gonna get you.

Piper Shaw: 01:05:50

I think it would have been better if you were on air because then it would have been funny. It would have been like, look what Schwartz. He did to gt.

JT Brown: 01:05:55

I'll have to find the video. I'll ask Shaver to clip it for me, and we'll post it when I.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:06:00

See a nice suit. Sometimes on the during warm ups, I like to. I'm stop wearing nice suits then you're lucky with water. Oh, well, got Coca Cola too.

I could have done that, but someone's.

JT Brown: 01:06:11

Gonna be paying my dry cleaning if we get the Gatorader. Coca Cola.

Grant Beery: 01:06:15

Just a fruit punch. Fruit punch, Gatorade. It'll go mix right in with some of the colors on your suits.

JT Brown: 01:06:21

I did appreciate it was funny.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:06:22

I was being nice there.

JT Brown: 01:06:23

It was funny. I. I did get a good laugh out of it. But, yeah, I'm still. I'm still planning to find a way to. To get you back.

Piper Shaw: 01:06:30

All right, well, head on a swivel, Jaden, because you never know where this guy's coming from. But with that being said, thank you so much for doing this. Thanks for joining us. Happy to finally get John.

Jaden Schwartz: 01:06:42

Yeah, thanks for finally getting me in here. Appreciate it.

JT Brown: 01:06:44

Thank you.

Piper Shaw: 01:06:46

All right, well, JT, now that Jaden has left the room. I am curious if you have any ideas of any. Of any pranks. I know that you. You pull some good pranks.

JT Brown: 01:06:56

Yeah, I've been.

I've been thinking about it, and I'm thinking about something like when we get on the plane, like, figure out where his seat is and haven't quite dialed down the details, but I do love a good prank. It was last year. I remember. I think I waited in the garage at Climate Pledge arena for, like, three hours after the game, waiting forever.

And I parked super close to his car.

Piper Shaw: 01:07:18

Like, I'm talking, like, I remember this.

JT Brown: 01:07:20

Maybe like 7 inches, 8 inches away from his car door, so he couldn't get in his car. So the prank was.

I had a video of him getting in the passenger seat, having to hop all the way over to get in, so he couldn't get into his car, trying to get in. It was worth the wait. It was hilarious. So I definitely like being on the winning side of pranks. So I'm going to find a way.

Grant Beery: 01:07:41

To get them back that shows some commitment. Three hours.

Piper Shaw: 01:07:43

I remember that because I came down. I don't remember what I was doing, but I was a little bit later than normal, too. And I was.

And I just hear, like, Piper, and you're, like, up in the ceiling somewhere because you camped out to wait.

JT Brown: 01:07:54

Yeah, yeah, that was. I was. Because I had to put my phone up there so he couldn't see it because I wanted to record.

So I was, like, up in the rafters taping my phone so that I could be right on the angle to see the cars. Yeah, I put a lot of effort into that one. It might not have been three. It felt like three hours, but, like, it's 20 minutes. Might have been.

No, it was over an hour for sure. It was over an hour.

Piper Shaw: 01:08:15

It was. I think it was at least two because Allison and I went to T.S.

mcHugh's Shout out after, and you were still texting us, and we were still there, and we were like, oh, my God, he's still there.

Grant Beery: 01:08:26

So people left and came back, and you were.

JT Brown: 01:08:28

Yeah, I was still there. I was committed.

Grant Beery: 01:08:30

Impressive.

JT Brown: 01:08:30

So I will. I will find a way. Don't necessarily know how, but mark my words, I will get him back.

Grant Beery: 01:08:37

He's going to be hiding in the bathroom on the plane is what we're going to hear next.

JT Brown: 01:08:42

So, yeah, we'll see.

Piper Shaw: 01:08:43

I don't know, maybe you could, like, enlist, like, Yanni or Monty to help you with something because you're tight with them.

JT Brown: 01:08:49

That's A. That's a good play. Maybe even to the equipment staff. That'd be another one to be able to find a way to.

Grant Beery: 01:08:54

Yeah.

JT Brown: 01:08:55

Get after them. And. Yeah, hey, I think that would be a good way to.

Piper Shaw: 01:08:58

ho just completed working his: 2000

I mean, he does so much and works so hard for the players, but he does a lot to, like, help us and support us, too. And I also do know he has had a hand in some of the funny pranks in the locker room and, like, the Adam Larson T shirts.

Maybe he may have had a little something to do with. So, fans, you might not know Jeff, but I know that you love his work.

Grant Beery: 01:09:39

Yeah. And he's probably a good ally for you on this.

JT Brown: 01:09:42

Well, my brain's spinning right now. I'll be thinking of this. I'm just figuring out how we can. Or at least I can get back at him.

Piper Shaw: 01:09:49

All right, well, on that note, everybody, thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of Signals from the Deep. Thank you to both of you two for being here. Thank you for being awesome teammates, and we hope wherever you are, you're having a great time.

You probably don't have a break, but we are looking forward to talking with you again on the next episode. See you real soon.

Grant Beery: 01:10:10

Signals from the Deep is the official podcast of your Seattle Kraken and is a proud member of the Kraken Hockey Network, hosted by Piper Shaw and JT Brown. Music composed by Benny Drawbars, production by Grant Beery. Have a question for the show?

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