Road Trip Roundup
Piper and JT are on the road, but that won't stop them from bringing you another episode of Signals From the Deep! Our intrepid hosts catch you up on the latest additions and departures after this season's trade deadline, the impact of the Kraken's Finnish phenoms, especially Eeli Tolvanen and Jani Nyman, who scored his first NHL goal against Montreal. Lastly, Piper and JT talk about the return of Philipp Grubauer to the lineup and how he and Joey Daccord performed during the latest homestand.
Transcript
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Piper Shaw:Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome to another episode of Signals from the Deep. This is episode number 30. We are the official podcast of your Seattle Kraken.
I am, of course, Piper Shaw, joined as always by JT Brown.
JT Brown:Happy to be here. Ready to go for the this next episode should be fun.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, this is our first one in a while that we've been on the road for, so we're just sitting in a hotel room in Chicago. Coming to you all.
JT Brown:Can't complain though. It's nice. Nice room, nice view out in Chicago.
Piper Shaw:Yeah.
JT Brown:Good to see the city.
Piper Shaw:Definitely.
There has been a ton of Kraken news and things that have happened since we've last recorded, so we have a lot to get through in today's episode we haven't recorded since before the trade deadline and just because of the way the game's timed out and our release schedule, that's just kind of how things went.
So I'm sure some of this is going to be old news to everybody at this point, but we still thought that we would offer some of our analysis, some of our thoughts on what went down because we have, you know, a short window on the broadcast to talk about these things.
JT Brown:People want to know what we have to say. Okay. That's why they're tuning in.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully. But we have to start with maybe some very big personal, professional news in the Brown family. Dr.
Lexi Brown has published her first book in the last week. It came out right last week.
JT Brown:It came out on March 11th. She's done a few different signings. Someone was at KCI.
She's been down to Portland, you know, all for launching the book, but it's been a long time coming when they, you know, go the process of going through the book, obviously writing it, editing it, you know, getting it to the point where it's actually a physical copy. You know, even just going from, you know, the I guess the arc or the original copy that you'd get to see and then getting to the final one.
So a lot has kind of gone into that. So it's been fun to see, you know, that process one, but also to see, you know, people excited about it. Right. And going to.
Whether it's a, you know, a book talk or, you know, just going to the signings and, you know, to be able to just walk into the Barnes and Noble at KCI and look and see, you know, what she's actually written.
And, you know, for myself, it's obviously, it's a proud moment, but, you know, even for her, she gets to see, you know, how much hard work that she has put into it and, you know, a dream or a goal of hers since day one, obviously going to school and finally finishing that, obviously wanting to write a book and to see that whole thing come to life is, you know, it's something that's very special. And obviously we're still. Still going forward. It's just been out for about a week at this point, but still more to come.
She's already working on book number two as well. So there's definitely a lot lot busier around the house at this time. But, you know, it's been exciting and can't wait to see what else is in store.
Piper Shaw:Is book two supposed to be related to book one or is it like a separate story? If you're allowed to share. I don't know if you're allowed to share. That might be top secret.
JT Brown:No, she's. She's posted on Social about it as well. I. From what I'm understanding too, it's not like the exact same characters.
Not the exact same, but it's similar but in a different world, I guess, if that makes sense. So you kind of will see some transparency like that kind of crossover. But it's not necessarily. It's not a sequel to the next. To the first book.
Kind of going into staying in the same hockey romance genre. Yeah. In the universe. So staying within that. But obviously not going to see the exact same, like, characters. But no, it's.
I've gotten partway through that. I haven't finished the whole part of the. The first edit of that book. But no, it's.
It's definitely exciting and obviously it's a really cool moment to be able to see, you know, all of her hard work actually show up. And it's in a physical copy and seeing the actual.
Piper Shaw:Hold it.
JT Brown:Yes. No.
And then also, like I said, just going to some of the Events and being able to see all the people that are excited about the book, want to read the book, have read the book, but, you know, there to support her as well. So for our family, it's been fun.
And thank you to everybody that's either, you know, got it, you know, sent messages on Twitter, Instagram, everything else. Obviously, the support is great. And I know she's definitely excited about not only the first book, but what's to come.
Piper Shaw:I was going to say you said that you're through the first edit of the second book.
JT Brown:Is that what you mean? I started it. I haven't finished of the second book, though.
Piper Shaw:So what is your role? How are you helping?
JT Brown:I'm not.
Piper Shaw:You're just reading, letting her know, giving her notes, checking if all the NHL references are in line or.
JT Brown:No, no, she. She obviously knows.
There's times where she'll ask me questions about, you know, whether it's like, CBA stuff or, you know, what would a practice be like after a game or, you know, this is the road trip, what would happen or what's normal, you know, so just little things like that. But I'm in really no position to give editing advice to a person who has a Ph.D. if we're going to be honest.
I just am reading it to read, you know, at the end of the day, you know, it's a form of showing support and wanting to. To understand and to see what's going on. Although I will say I did catch an edit in the first book, which was pretty. You know, I thought I was crap.
I was pretty good. So at the end of the day. So maybe I did help.
Piper Shaw:Was it like a typo or was it like a story plot hole or something?
JT Brown:No, it was more of a just. Just a typo that I picked up on that nobody really picked up. I don't. I mean, again, I mean, she might get mad, but actually, I don't think she will.
It was. They were having a shot of tequila. It was with a lemon. And I was like, instead of. But she was like, I don't know. We just read it.
You go through the book so many times through your editing process that you just overlook it. And your brain says, you know, it's a lemon, but it should be a lime. I'm like, no one's gonna have a shot of tequila with a lemon.
Like, you need a lime. So I added that. So then they were able to fix that and put it back in.
So I thought that I was like, all right, there's my one piece of Help and advice.
Piper Shaw:I don't do a lot of tequila shots in my life, but if I do, I like them with oranges. Oranges is. Try it. Try it with an orange and with cinnamon. It's way better if you're ever finding yourself in that situation.
Although a lot of bars, they don't just, like, have cinnamon sitting at the front, but sometimes they're willing to go the extra eye.
JT Brown:Sometimes it's nice, too, to just have another set of eyes. Obviously, like the editors and her, she's read the book and gone over it how many different times to get to the final process.
And, you know, me coming in from a completely different viewpoint wouldn't say I read the most books going through or through my time, but at the end of the day, it's just a different viewpoint. And again, I picked up on something that I do enjoy. So. Hey.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, well, it's cool that you guys have a hockey romance and now you guys have.
I mean, it's hers, but you have a small part in it and you've been supporting her, and it's big for your family to have a hockey romance novel that's kind of special. It's cool.
JT Brown:No, it's been. It's been awesome. So I'm just, like I said, excited. And we're waiting to see what comes next for everybody else. I can't give out any spoilers.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, no spoilers. But everybody. I don't think we said the title of the book. The book is called shoot your shot, correct?
JT Brown:Yes.
Piper Shaw:And I know it's in a ton of local bookstores and you can get it online, too, or find it on Lexi's Instagram.
JT Brown:Yeah, obviously, go to her Instagram.
I think she has a bunch of different places, but Amazon, and I've seen it at Barnes and Noble, like you said, all of the local bookshops, she's gone around signing books, so if you happen to run across one, you might get a signed copy. So definitely check it out.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Well, speaking of shooting their shot, Brandon Montour is the NHL's third star of the week at the time that we are recording this.
Six points in three games. I love your guys's little banter. You guys have a funny relationship that I wish fans could see more of because it's hilarious. But what.
What have you seen from Monty lately? I mean, he's just been on fire.
JT Brown:Yeah. I think, you know, a lot of it's similar to how he normally would play, but maybe just adding a little bit more of the offensive side to it.
He's been very active when it comes to jumping into the rush, leading the rush at times as well. And you know, I think the one thing that you know or I've noticed the most is he is shooting a lot more.
It seems like as soon as the puck moves its way back to the point, he's already got his mind set on delivering that puck. Not always necessarily looking for another play or maybe not even going D to D.
Just getting pucks down and around the net and good things end up happening. I mean, I even look at the goal where he was net front. You know, that's not a spot where you find a defenseman very often.
Yes, it ended up going off of his skate in, but he's still there. He's creating another just layer of attack, getting himself to the net front.
And obviously Eberle did a great job just throwing it towards the net and you go to the blue paint, good things can happen.
It doesn't always have to be, you know, the one timer, the slap shot that goes into the top corner, but from the defensive side, you know, just being very active, you know, breaking up a play, but then wanting to jump and be a part of that offense.
And it really does help the forward as well when you have that defenseman, even if they don't get it, you know, whether it's Monty, whether it's Vince Dunn, you know, any of the defensemen that are jumping into the play, it really does help the forwards, give them a little bit more time, a little bit more space, you know, if they can occupy, you know, one of the defensemen or occupy a lane. It just opens things up for the forwards as well.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, and it seemed like him, Stevie, Jordan and others obviously as well. Tolvy, like they've all been clicking so well too since Jordan has getting back to like just full game speed, just getting better and better.
And I keep, I feel like I've said this like 10,000 times in the last two weeks, but when Jordan was coming back from injury, he said one of the many bummers of being out was that he was looking forward to getting to play with Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson. You know, the big free agency signings over the summer and he barely got to.
So it's cool that not only has he been playing alongside Stevie and they've been super productive with Tolvy on that line, but also we've seen Jordan and Monty connect several times as well and develop some great, great chances and score.
JT Brown:No, I mean when they're playing, the offense is clicking for the Kraken it definitely does. It works, right? You see the opportunities that they do get and it's almost like you're playing a little bit of a more freeing hockey right now.
They're understanding where guys are going to be. Obviously with Eberle coming in, it's a little bit different. Right.
You haven't had the amount of time, but I think, you know, when you get to play with your defensive pairs a little bit more in Monter situation, you start to understand when can I jump in? Is this or is my defensive partner going to be going back or is a forward covering for me so I can pinch down as a defenseman?
You start getting a little bit more confidence within that.
And just the way that the team has been playing, especially as of late, a lot of those offensive opportunities, you just see the creativeness coming out and, you know, obviously just trusting and going with their gut. And I think that's what you're seeing a lot with Monterey. You're seeing that with Stevie as well.
They play, they've been playing fantastic hockey, but they're just trusting their gut and they're just going out and they're playing.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, and related to that too.
It's just been, you know, as people who are more up close and personal with the team, I think it's been so awesome to see Stevie and Monty really embrace the fact that they, you know, they've signed these long term deals and they act like it like in the room, you can tell that they really care about what's happening with like the culture of the room and they're always getting guys involved.
Monty's always with the young guys on the plane and chirping everybody and really like making sure that even, you know, staff members feel like included in conversations and stuff. And I think that's been really positive. And then obviously, more importantly, the on Ice production, obviously.
But it's, it's, they've been big for kind of the culture, I think, to both of them. And that's great.
JT Brown:It's a, it's important too for, you know, guys obviously, you know, coming into a new team this year to establish that as well. They obviously have been leaders on their team and they can do that. Whether or not you have a A or you have a C on your jersey.
There's multiple leaders within and everybody can lead different ways. And again, you talk about Monty just having the smile, always bringing in the young guys, whether it's, you know, staff as well.
Like even just today, you know, I turn around on the plane and he's got a smile on his face, like, what do you want?
And obviously, I had something to say to him, but, you know, at the end of the day, he's always got that, you know, that mentality, is always ready to joke. But at the end of the day, you know, when he comes out there and plays, it's all business.
And you see that with within what he's doing out on the ic, he's not afraid to, you know, lay somebody out, lay a big hit, jump into the play. He's always yapping between the benches. And again, I just think you look at Stevie, too, and just how reliable he can be out there on the ice.
You know, obviously the face off data is a huge aspect, you know, of his game, but he sees the ice so well. He's always incorporating everybody that's on his line, you know, whether the assist, the passing plays. Obviously, I think he can still shoot more.
Piper Shaw:Yeah.
JT Brown:But at the end of the day, he's always making the right. More than making the right play, the right decision. And, you know, at the end of the day, when they're clicking, when everybody's rolling, it's a.
It's a very fun team to watch.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Stevie on the PK against Winnipeg. Yeah. Also, I love Stevie. Always has his son around at home games. Ford. I don't know exactly how old he is.
I guess he's three or four, because I know that he was born when they were in Vegas, but he is not only so stinking cute, but he's literally, like, just around in the hallway all the time. Like, every time they're coming off the ice, and Stevie always just, like, picks him up, like, coming right off the ice. And it's just like.
To me, too, it's like, that's kind of a sign, too, that it's just like, it's family at the rink, you know, And I think that's cool. So, yeah, it's been. It's. It's been positive. So anyway, shout out Brandon Montour, NHL's third star.
JT Brown:That'll cost him of the week.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Oh, yeah. I had one more thing on this, too.
Every time he comes over to me for an intermission interview, he starts trying to talk in my mic, and he's like, tell JT to shut his mouth. And he's like, tell JT to just quiet down. He's like, tell him to pipe down, Piper.
I'm like, okay, Monty, he cannot hear you, but let's get this interview done.
JT Brown:You know that. Another time. I'm gonna. I'm Gonna get back at him for this one. Yeah, obviously we do have a fun relationship going back and forth, but you know what?
I'm gonna get him too. Yeah, I gotta. Shorts is on my list. And Monty.
Piper Shaw:That's right, list.
JT Brown:Now. I got, I got some time still.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, you got a couple weeks. But if you're trying to get it in between before the season ends, there. Prank's coming. I don't think they listen to this podcast, but if they do.
Guys, head on a swivel. JT's coming. All right, so we haven't recorded since the trade deadline. We got to talk about some of these trades.
Obviously, you know, the really big important players from the beginning of this franchise. So start with the, the big one. Some people felt like this was, you know, the biggest trade of this year's trade deadline.
rde, Oliver Bjorkstrand and a:You've also played in Tampa with him, so you have a unique perspective on, you know, I think him going back there as well.
JT Brown:I mean, I think it's.
Any time you trade players, especially, you know, ones who have, you know, put the time and been with the team for a while and you know what they mean to a team. It's tough, right? Like, you never really want to see your friends go, whether, you know, you're talking about Yanni or.
But even just everybody in the locker room, it can be a, it can be a difficult time, you know, obviously. But at the end of the day, you understand the NHL, it is a business. And how do you move forward, you know, from there?
And I think that's the hard part. Especially, you know, fans go through as you get.
You fall in love with players, they're your favorite player and you know, end of the day they might end up being gone the next year.
But I think that when you go to it and you look at the return that was getting and where the Seattle Kraken are trying to go, you have to look at it and be like, yeah, it is a positive.
Obviously it's hard to lose guys like Yanni where they bring the heart and soul, whether it's the penalty kill, physicality, you know, not afraid to drop the gloves. Bjorkstrand as well, when you talk about his offensive ability, what he brought every single day, I think that that part is hard to replace. Right.
you get a first round pick in:So it can be in a hard situation, but again, you're just looking at the options and where this team can go moving forward. And having two extra first round picks is huge. Whether you draft them or not. Right.
They can be used at the, at the draft to move to maybe get different players.
So Ron Francis and the rest of the staff have a, a lot of different options that they can take with going through this route and obviously going back to Tampa, you know, especially for Yanni in a situation where he had already played there, he had been there, he had won cups with, you know, Tampa as well and you know, I've played in the organization, it's a fantastic place to be.
So if he's going to go back, I'm assuming, you know, obviously going back to Tampa was a place where, you know, he would been obviously welcomed back. But you know, from his standpoint, obviously being familiar, that makes it a lot easier.
You know, in a similar case to with Brandon Tanev, which we'll get to that one as well, you've been there, you've played within that system and you know, even for Ali to go there and go with a teammate like Yanni.
Piper Shaw:Was a line mate, I mean, when Yanni was healthy, like, and they had.
JT Brown:Played so well, especially even you look at last year, you know, how they had played on a line together for the majority of the entire season and the success that they had and just to have that somebody that's been there and already kind of gone through it and obviously they're a great team down in Tampa and they were trying to get better as far as their depth.
You know, obviously we know they point Kucherov and Guentzel as their top line and to try to find a little bit more scoring and that's what Ali could do for them. So as much as you're sitting there, you're saying, hey man, this is, it's tough to see those guys go.
But at the end of the day, you look at them from a You know, a friend or from a player standpoint and you, I mean, all the guys in the locker room, you know, they wish them all the success as they, they move forward, but it's tough. You're going to end up missing it. But I think you don't really see the true benefits of what a trade happens, you know, until those picks are done.
Well, maybe that pick gets moved to another pick. So it could be years down the line before you fully see, you know, everything that's transpired from the trade.
But it's a, it's, it happens every single year. Every single year. But it doesn't necessarily make it easier.
But I think when you look at it from a organizational standpoint, to be able to have those extra picks and to be able to use those in whatever way they decide to better this team, not only for next year, but for the years and coming, Right?
Piper Shaw:Yeah. And also, obviously, Yanni was on an expiring contract and it seems like from just.
This is just my inference, we have no insider information, but it seems like there's probably a desire to keep him in Tampa longer. His wife, Marie has posted quite a bit that they are, you know, so happy to be back in Tampa.
They fully packed up their house in Seattle, fully went back to Tampa. So hopefully, you know, that's positive, like for their family too, from, you know, a human aspect.
And for Oliver to go with Johnny, I mean, like, it's, you know, you hate to be traded, I would imagine.
But to get to go with Yanni, somebody who's one of, you know, your closest teammates and who's so beloved there, that's got to be, you know, kind of a nice.
JT Brown:Yeah, I think you have to kind.
Piper Shaw:Of, in a way, kind of have.
JT Brown:To turn around, like you said, to.
Piper Shaw:Win a cup, like, let's go.
JT Brown:I don't think anybody ever sitting there, you know, does happen. Right. There are people who ask for trades. It goes through, but obviously, you know, I think they like the situation here. Things were fine.
And at the end of the day, you do get move right. But at this, so you can try to turn it around and say, you know, it's just a new opportunity.
But like you said, you got it on a team right now that has an opportunity to win a cup and, you know, that's what your goal and your focus is, so you kind of get to move on and things happen so fast sometimes you don't really have enough time to truly process that. But again, at the end of the day, you just wish everybody the best. Moving forward.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. And so then in that trade, the Kraken also got Mikey Asymont. And what have you thought about how he's fit in?
He's been playing on the fourth line there, but he's been pretty productive for the amount of minutes and the situations that he's been playing in.
JT Brown:Yeah, he's got two goals already so far this year. And you know, I think one thing he does bring, he does bring speed. He also plays with a little bit of an edge.
You know, obviously not to compare directly towards Yanni, but you lose a guy like Yanni and you get a guy in return that can go play on the fourth line, that can be a little bit of an energy. Guy can be a buzz saw. And, you know, you see that speed, you see his willingness to dive down into the corners.
But I also love the fact, you know, going to the net front, we talk about all the time on the broadcast. That's where you go. That's where the goals are scored and he's willing to do those little things.
And I think the biggest part is just showing off that speed. And I mean, going back to his last goal back at Climb at Pledge arena, and great move at the blue line, went in on a two on one.
It was able to beat the goalie five hole. And, you know, so he shows a little bit of that skill as well, being able to have the two goals so far right now.
And again for him, it's a new opportunity as well. Right. Get to be on a team. Maybe you get. You can find your way into a more elevated role than you maybe had in Tampa.
Obviously still playing right now on the fourth line, but this is an opportunity for him. He needs another contract as well. So he's playing for that next job too.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, 100%.
And I think you could see that too in like the interview that I did with him in that Winnipeg game where he, he had that great goal and I asked him about him, like, this is your first goal here in Climate Pledge arena. And the building was loud. It was so loud in there. And it was only the first period. Like, it was. It was already electric.
So I was kind of asking about the energy and he was like, it doesn't matter that I scored that goal if we don't win. And, and I mean, it's kind of a hockey player answer. But that is the.
To me, that's the answer of somebody who wants to play for a job and wants to win some games and is like, you know, so I'm like, hey, hats, off, be comfortable.
JT Brown:And you can see him, you know, within the system and starting to play. And, you know, obviously, again, big aspect. He is a fast player. He could get in and disrupt the four checks.
But again, love the fact he also already, you know, this many games in stepping up, you know, trying to help out a teammate, getting into the scrums as well, and, you know, that goes a long way with the room as well.
So when you're talking about coming into a new team, wanting to establish, wanting to get to know everybody, and he's out there stepping up for guys, and, you know, that's a good sign.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. I also side note, as you know, I went to college with Mikey at St.
Cloud State University, and he was in, like, similar circles with a lot of my friends and stuff. He was Will Borgen's roommate in college, and on his first day with us, we were in Nashville, and I didn't have a chance to go say hi to him yet.
So he comes out to do this media scrum, and there's, you know, Nashville media there, all these people. And he kind of steps out into this front of the backdrop, and he gives me this look like, I think I know you.
But he can't really say anything because it's like this group interview, and then it's done. And he's like, Piper. He's like, from St. Cloud. I'm like, yeah.
So that's been kind of cool to, like, connect with him, because then I was thinking about it, I'm like. Because I asked him, I was like, do you know anybody here? He's like, I don't know any of these guys.
He's like, I've played against them, but I do not know any of the guys on the Kraken. So I'm like, I guess I know Mikey so far better.
Probably not at this point now, at the time that we're recording this, but he's got two cats back in Tampa. He told me he loves his cats. He's rescued a cat for each hurricane that he's been there. I'm like, all right, that's cool.
JT Brown:So I can get down. I like cats, too.
Piper Shaw:So I know. You were talking about maybe getting one, weren't you?
JT Brown:I'm still thinking about it, but, you know, I got to do this in process. I've already. Side note, I have bought an animal without actually, like, going through the process.
We bought a dog, the second one, because I thought the second one would be Lexi's dog.
Piper Shaw:That's not how it works.
JT Brown:But it did not Work that way. And I didn't tell her. And I was like, just so you know, you have to.
I bought a dog last night at like 1:00 and it's gonna be at the airport in three days or whatever, the four days. And I'm like, you're gonna have to go pick him up. I'm on the road for the next seven days, so you're gonna have to go pick up our dog.
Piper Shaw:When was that?
JT Brown:When we lived in Tampa.
Piper Shaw:Oh, my gosh.
JT Brown:We had Sully. And then I got booed. I saw the picture. It was a little miniature husky. And it had the left ear in the. Had a floppy ear.
Piper Shaw:Wait, you had Sully and Boo because you love Monsters, Inc. That's right.
JT Brown:So those are the names of our dogs. And then obviously we ended up having to re home them when we got to Minnesota. Long story. Don't have to go into that now.
But I still love animals and I want to get a cat at some point because I'm more of a cat person than a dog person because I.
Piper Shaw:Well, in the lifestyle, like, I have.
JT Brown:Two cats, it's very hard.
Piper Shaw:It's impossible. And my husband travels too. And it's just like, I would love to have a dog, but he loves golden retrievers.
But I'm like, and who's gonna walk that dog when we are both gone for three weeks at a time? What are we doing?
JT Brown:Correct?
Piper Shaw:When are we spending time with this animal?
JT Brown:So I do want another animal. But again, like you said, our schedule, it's very tough.
But at the end of the day, I don't know, Lily keeps bugging me about getting a cat and I'm like, I do want one, but Lily deserves it. Yeah, she does. But we're gonna. Maybe when she's like 10.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Also, shout out Allison Lukin.
She tried to adopt a cat a couple weeks ago, Meatloaf, but the cat was in like Northern California and they just never responded. And she was emailing and emailing because it was a very special cat.
So, Meatloaf, we hope you are somewhere well, because Allison would have loved to be your new mother. So. All right, let's move on. We got more traits to get through now that we have. Now that we finished our cat chat. Brandon Tanoff.
ff to the Winnipeg jets for a:We are at the time of recording this, just having played Winnipeg and seeing him in that game. What'd you think of this trade? And also kind of maybe how Mikey Helps fill that spot a little bit that he brought too.
JT Brown:Yeah. In a similar fashion, we were talking about Yanni and again the way they played, Taniv and Yanni both played their heart out every single game.
Whether it's the penalty kill, you know, laying in front of blocking shots, they have that tenacity. And you know, we saw that in the game, right?
Like even though Brandon Tanen was traded to Winnipeg jets, he's playing against a team that, you know, he's been here, you know, over the last four years and going through and he's not going to change his style. Right.
Piper Shaw:He laid a hit on Shane Wright. People were mad about it.
JT Brown:He's still going to play the same way. And you know, from my standpoint, I'm like, I didn't expect anything else from, you know, Turbo going through playing the game.
And you know, that was what I was referencing as well. Where Mikey Acmon stepped in after Wright had been hit, Cartier did as well.
They both got in there, obviously cooler heads ended up prevailing in that situation.
So, you know, another situation much like Yanni though, where you're talking about Tanev and you know, getting to go back to Winnipeg in a spot where, you know, he had already, he started his career and he was able to play.
Piper Shaw:He gave him his big break, you.
JT Brown:Know, and to be able to go back and, and to go back to a system or go back to a place where you're familiar, you know, I think that makes the, the transition easier and it's never easy again, losing guys like that, especially ones that are, you know, we can call them fan favorites, y know, guys who play a certain way that's, you know, sometimes going away when hard to find, when hockey is concerned. And not every team or every team would love a guy like Brandon Tan of every team would love, you know, that Yanni Gore.
Because there's just not many guys who want to play that way, want to sacrifice as much as they do, you know, out on the ice. So obviously it's tough to see, you know, him leave.
etting a second round pick in:That's, you know, not, that's in the junior hockey. That's, you know, obviously the, in the American Hockey League. We're getting to see guys come up right now and how they've been playing.
So you kind of get to see where the Kraken are starting to go or where their strengths are, what do they need to address, I guess in the offseason.
And you have the picks, you have the ability to either a draft those players or make some extra moves so that you can get somebody that's ready right now.
Piper Shaw:And similar to the Yanni Oliver trade, Brandon gets to go somewhere that is the top team in the NHL, the jets right now as the time we're recording this, that is they're the best team in the league. So. And somewhere that he's beloved. So out of all the places that.
JT Brown:He could land, it doesn't always work that way. Right.
Piper Shaw:100%.
JT Brown:Especially when, you know, players have already played there and you know, had established themselves into that city, into those communities. You know, to be able to go back and you know, have those cities welcome them back with open arms, it has to feel great for those players, you know.
But at the same time, I think all hockey players understand that the as much as it's fun and we're playing, it is a business.
You have to, you understand the situations of, you know, whether it's the contract, where are you going to play and it doesn't always work out where you get to go to say a preferred destination if you were had to be moved. It doesn't always work that way 100%.
Piper Shaw:I do know though that or I believe, because I think he's talked about it a couple times that Ron tries to, you know, work with the guys. He, you know, he does care about the person to an extent as well.
o the New Jersey Devils for a:He was obviously playing with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. It was lighting it up down there. So I'm sure that he is happy to be getting another opportunity in the NHL.
And the Devils, they need the firepower right now. So yeah. So good luck to all of those guys. We'll miss you, but keep it up. So we have more cracking news to get to as well.
We have a new leading goal scorer in the forward group. Ellie Tolvanen for the first time in his career is a 20 goal scorer.
@ the time of recording he's sitting at 21 because he also hit the empty Net on Friday night against the Utah Hockey Club. I know you, you, you like Ellie's game a lot. What have you seen from him lately that you kind of point to is why he's been able to be so productive.
JT Brown:I mean, he's got a great shot. That's first and foremost. We see that time and time again. The big part about that too is he's done the majority of his damage at.
Well, actually he's only got one power.
Piper Shaw:One power play now.
JT Brown:So you look at being able to score and to get yourself into those positions at even strength, that's not easy to do. And he's been able to do that.
Obviously, he's got great hockey instincts to find those lanes to go, but when he gets that time and he has an opportunity to shoot and he lets it go, it's got a chance. There's not that many.
I mean, obviously you look around the league and obviously every team has players, but he's one of those guys on this team that can beat a goalie with the shot without having a screener, without having to have, you know, the puck movement from side to side and going cross crease. You know, he can just beat a goalie one on one, and that's what you see with the shot. But also just look at, you know, his tenacity.
He does play with a little bit of an edge too.
Maybe not as much as you're saying, you know, like the instigating type or, you know, the AC mount getting in the corners and want to do that, but he also leads the Kraken and hits. So when he's not shying away from anything. And I think that just goes to show that, you know, you can do it all.
Or he has a fully well rounded game when it comes to the forecheck getting into the corners, which helps his teammates as well.
You look at how successful, you know, just turning over one puck because he gets in and he's on the forecheck or he laid a hit on a defenseman earlier in the game and now that defenseman takes an extra second to look over their shoulder and now they make correct and then it goes to the next player. So, again, I think it helps in a lot of ways. I think we've seen him get on the penalty kill as well. Obviously you lose two penalty killers.
When you're talking about Yanni Gordon, you're also talking about Brandon Tanup. So you have to find a way to replace those guys.
So he's getting a elevated look, just not only from getting moving around the lineup and getting to play up in the lineup with Chandler and Everly as well. But, but you're seeing him get more minutes and staying in the groove, just going out on the penalty kill. He's not afraid to block shots.
And again, to see a guy that can score the way he can score, but still wanting to be as physical as he is out on the ice, like he said, leading the Kraken, when it comes to hits, you don't see that very often as well. So as far as a well rounded game, obviously I love what he does. You see the shot and, you know, hear Edzo talk all the time.
Like, if he gets on the power play, do you think he probably could have four or five more goals at this point? You know, if he had a consistent role on there and, you know, maybe that's where you see, maybe going into next year you see those type of things.
And I think at the end of the day, he has a high ceiling still left to go. Even though this is the first time getting to that 20 goal mark, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if he stays there.
It's just good to see the growth and the development. Right.
Like, obviously, I think when, I mean, first of all, he was taken off of labor, so what, so what a, what a claim that was right there, obviously from Nashville.
And you know, it took him even a while to get into the Kraken lineup and then you start seeing, all right, then he's scoring, he's getting closer, he's getting closer. And you know, I never got to it, but like 20 goals is a milestone, like to be able to get to 20 goals in a season. Kudos to him.
But also, I know there's more. I think he knows there's more and you know, it's all about just getting there.
And he said he still is young, he's still finding his way and so far so good.
Piper Shaw:Yeah.
He even said the other day when we were talking to him in media about getting to that 20 goal mark, he's like, I've just felt like I've been so close every year, just hovering at 16, 18 around this time of year earlier, and then just having things slow down as we headed down the stretch.
So I think it was almost like a sigh of relief for him because I think that he fully believes and expects that he could and should be a 20 goal scorer every single year.
So I think for him it's more like he's like, I've met my, like a personal expectation and I can do Better, which is also awesome to see and great for the future of this team.
So since Tolby has been the talk of the town lately, we figured that you should hear hear from him and his teammates about the groove that he's been in. You scored your 20th and your 21st goals of the season. You lead the team in scoring. What do you attribute the success to?
Speaker D:No, I feel like ours as a line, we've created a lot, you know, with those two guys. You know, they always tell me to shoot the puck and that's what I'm trying to do. And you know, they're. They're special players.
You know, they can make plays and there's a lot of guys that can't. And, you know, when you, when you play with the top, that kind of. You just have to go to the net and, you know, be ready to shoot.
Piper Shaw:How meaningful is it to you personally to have this kind of season yourself?
Speaker D:No, it's big, of course. I think last couple years I've hit 18 and then, you know, the last 10 to 15 games I haven't scored a goal.
So, you know, it feels good now to get the 20 and 21st.
Piper Shaw:Thank you for your time, Ellie. Congratulations.
Speaker E:All right.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Piper Shaw:All right, well, let's talk about another Finn that's also been lighting things up.
I feel like this year has been in a couple of ways, like the year of the Finnish people or the Finnish guys for our team because we had Coco the goalie make his debut, obviously Capo Kako, and then Tolvey the year he's had. And then now it's been Yanni Newman, Janni Neumann.
Three goals in the NHL or three games in the NHL at the time we're recording this and two goals both on the power play. Family in the building throughout the homestand as well. They were so fun to watch.
What do you think about how he's fit in and found his game at the highest level as he's 20 years old?
JT Brown:Yeah, he's young and again, he doesn't look phased by it. Right. I think that's the, the big thing you see the first game you see, is he going to be, you know, over his head? Does he feel like that?
But you don't see an ounce of that in his game. He's confident. He knows what he's going to do with the puck.
And I was talking, you know, through with John, I believe in one of the periods, and I kind of just mentioned to him, like, this is the first game, you know, that's where the nerves are. That's where the jitters are. And he's still playing like this.
Imagine once he gets comfortable, once he starts to understand, you know, even more so whether it's system players wise because you're playing with a whole new group of people getting to know the league as well. Think about how good he could be, right? And just from the glimpse that we've had, it's been short.
Obviously the shot is a huge aspect of his game as well.
We talked about Toven and being able to shoot and we've seen him on the power play with the Newman taking his one timer and getting off, hitting it off the post. He scored two power play goals. Great setups by Jordan Ebley.
The goals are almost very similar from a down low play with Everly down at the goal line and him working his way towards the middle of the ice for a one timer that ends up, you know, going into the back of the net. So obviously he has the offensive instincts, but still at the other side, he has size as well. He's six two, I believe 212 is what's recorded for him.
And he uses his size, he uses his frame down in the corners, gets to the net front. He battles with some tough customers that he's had to go against, whether it's the defenseman or even forwards out in front of the net.
He's not shying away from anything.
And you can see his confidence and even through the games as he's played, it's only been the three games, but you even look from game one to game two and then you look at game three as well. For him to be able to keep progressing and to see that it's been fun to watch.
Obviously, anytime you get to score in your NHL debut is a pretty cool moment. Obviously. The game itself was an awesome experience, right with the comeback and Monty scoring the game winner in overtime.
Four seconds that history there. But at the same time, you got to see, you know, Yanni score his first in the National Hockey League in his first game.
Family in the stands again, just a really cool moment.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, you talked about too how it's like imagine, you know, being him and you're this young, you know, you don't know your teammates and all those things. But also Yanni is still learning English. And so that's another thing.
It's like even like the communication aspect, I would imagine, you know, in the room and on the ice is a little bit different for him right now too. So it's even more of a testament as he continues to learn in all kinds of ways and adjust in all kinds of ways, like even that, you know.
JT Brown:So, yeah, I'm not. I mean, I'm not in the room, so I guess. I don't know.
But at least I'm sure it does help having, you know, some other finished players on the team and you could speak to them.
And again, been in many locker rooms and you'll hear whether it's Russian, Swedish, French, like, you'll hear all the different languages of the people that are in that locker room. So I'm sure at least that side of it does help.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, I know. To was saying that it's been nice to have like fellow Finns around and that he's been enjoying it and that he's been kind of like their leader.
Almost like he's been playing darts with capo Kako and he just. Tolvi is so funny. He's like secretly funny because he's quiet, so you really have to like listen to what he says. But he's like, yeah, he's.
He's like, well, I'm better at capo at most things, but he did beat me in darts last week. I was like, okay, Ellie. But anyway, that being said, Yanni gave us just a really awesome special post game interview.
He was a little bit nervous about it because he was a little bit nervous about TV and all of that because it was his first NHL game. But we wanted to share it with all of you because I think that you can, you know, kind of hear his. His sincerity and how excited he was.
So please enjoy. Yanni, congratulations on not only making your NHL debut tonight, but scoring your first goal as well.
With your family in the arena, what does this moment feel like to you?
Speaker E:Oh, this is very, very, very special. Special night for me and my family. I don't know what I said, but it's very special.
Piper Shaw:When you saw that puck go in the back of the net, what was going through your mind?
Speaker E:Oh, it's awesome. I like. I don't know. It's. It's good past children and it's almost empty net and I try to only suit and score and that's it.
Piper Shaw:How did the pace and the physicality of the NHL compare for you compared to the ahl?
Speaker E:Oh yeah, of course. This is the best, best league in the world. But it's feeling very good. Very good. It's. It's so fast. So fast. But I think I, I playing good.
Piper Shaw:What do you want to say to your parents when you see them after this?
Speaker E:Thank you.
Piper Shaw:Oh, absolutely. Congratulations. What a moment. Thank you.
Speaker E:Thank you.
Piper Shaw:All right. One more thing too that we also wanted to touch on as it relates to this home stand and just kind of the crack in hockey we've seen lately.
Is Philip Grubauer coming back from Coachella Valley playing really well?
JT Brown:Yeah, it's been fantastic in his. His two games.
Philly, you look at the Utah game as well, and there's moments throughout the game where, you know, they could have had two or three goals in the period, but he stood on his head, you know, and made those big time saves.
So, I mean, it's really just a testament to him and obviously the coaching staff and being able, you know, being willing to go down to Coachella Valley during the Four nations break, you know, to go down, get some games and try to re center himself and find that game again. And we're seeing it out on the ice. I mean, you see him confident out there, you see him getting out to the top.
He's challenging the shooters and again, he's making those big saves.
So I mean, again, more just a shout out to him and to be able to come back and play those games, go down there, you have a successful run down in Coachella and come right back and, you know, it's almost like, you know, no, he didn't miss anything. He didn't miss a beat. He's just going right with it. Obviously, Joey's been playing fantastic as well.
You know, he's been doing what he's done all season. But I just think that, you know, you look at those games and how he's played, he's been top notch.
He's been right exactly how you'd expect or you would say, all right, that's Gruby's game. That's the Gruby that you want to see on a nightly basis.
And again, I just look at those games and, you know, he's a big reason why you're able to win those games.
Piper Shaw:Definitely. I also want to say that I encourage you all to go onto the Krakens website and look for a piece that we ran on the Kraken Hockey network recently.
It was Joey Decord and Philip Grubauer talking about mental health and managing their mental health as goalies and athletes and just as men as well. And I felt like the two of them, they were so open and willing to have this conversation with me that could.
Could be, you know, uncomfortable or feel vulnerable. And for them, they were just totally open about it because it has to be such an active part of their preparation.
And of their managing of their bodies because their minds as goalies, I mean, as hockey players and athletes in general, it is so important and people, but particularly, you know, for goalies and the pressure that they face.
So I would really encourage you, if you missed it on our network to go check it out because I felt very inspired and like, I learned a lot too, just listening to them.
JT Brown:I don't know how they do it first. And that's all I'll say. Don't know how anybody plays goalie. There's way too much involved with that. Nope.
Whether it's right or wrong, they're like, oh, if you lost the game, it's your goalies. If you win the game, it's the forward who scored the end of day. So they don't always get the credit.
Obviously there are games where goalie stand on their head, but it's just a stressful, stressful position to play. And again, I would again, I don't want anybody shooting 100 mile an hour puck at me either. But again, kudos to them.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Also that this, this part of the interview didn't make the cut ultimately because me and Phil were just like joking around.
But I asked him something about, like, what? He loves being a goalie and he's like, oh, I just love having people shoot pucks at my head. Like, he was just kidding. And I was like, okay.
But sometimes because he has such a dry sense of humor, sometimes it's kind of hard to tell if he is kidding or not. But I'm like, I have to assume that he's kidding about that. But it happens every day. Like, that's his job.
JT Brown:So maybe every day. I mean, that's why I always said if I ever hit the goal in the head, I'm like, hey, sorry, but you chose to play this position, okay?
Like, that's not my fault.
Piper Shaw:Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if Joey chose because Joey's dad was a goalie and all of that. I mean, he loves it. He loves it.
And I always say when we share like Joey's feature, like, it takes a special kind of person to be a goaltender and 100% and yes. Yeah. Also this last week we had Women in Hockey Night at Climate Pledge arena. And it was a really awesome night.
I thought that the in arena programming, they did so much to try to highlight so many different stories in the organization. King 5 did a great story on Haley, who is Bui's best friend, who you see her always running around with Bui. That's really fun.
There's some great written stories and some video features as well on the Krakens website. So. So from Namita and Princess and Alex Van Drycke, one of our assistant general managers, to, of course, coach Jessica Campbell and Caitlin Parker.
Like, there's so many great stories online, so I would encourage you all to go check some of those out, too, because there's lots of. Lots of different people that make this crack and hockey thing happen from so many different areas.
So we also have a little teaser for everybody for a future episode of Signals from the Deep. We've been trying to nail down this guest for a while. He's busy, busy, very busy. He is very popular because he is a prime member of the media.
You could say he's gonna hate that or he's gonna love it. I don't know. But we finally have secured a date where we can get the one and only John Forsland.
JT Brown:We get the announcer.
Piper Shaw:The announcer, John Forsland. Or as I accidentally said to him on air the other night, Josh Forslund, because I had Josh Mahura on the mind for my story.
And what's funny is that there is one Josh in the booth, and that's you, not him. But, yeah, Josh. And Josh up in the booth. No, no, John. So we finally have been able to find a time that he's gonna come on.
So I believe that's probably gonna be episode 32 by the time it airs, which we were saying is special because of 32.
But he's got so many great stories and so, so many things that we are so lucky to be close to him and privy to get to hear about and so much knowledge and wisdom that he has. So I just want to encourage you guys to keep your eye out for that.
JT Brown:He's got a lot of stories, so there might be a long one. I'm just gonna point that out. But it's gonna be a fun one. I can't wait to have him on and stay tuned.
Piper Shaw:Yeah, he's very busy, so it's been hard. We've been talking about this, like, all year. But he's just, you know, he's doing the Amazon games and he's doing TNT games, plus our games.
So he's just never in one place for, like, more than a day at this point. But he's the best, so look out for that.
JT Brown:I don't feel bad for him. He's got tons of frequent flyer miles now, so, you know what?
Piper Shaw:True.
JT Brown:He's moving around.
Piper Shaw:He also loves it. I mean, he loves nothing more than to call hockey games. Like, it is his passion. It is literally calling is his calling.
JT Brown:100%.
Piper Shaw:So, no, he's. He's living his dream. 100%. So, yeah. Anyway, do you have any other final thoughts? I feel like this was an action packed episode here.
JT Brown:We had a lot to go through, so right now, no. But look forward to the next one.
Piper Shaw:All right, well, everybody, thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Signals from the Deep. Wherever you are, we hope that you are doing well and we appreciate all of the wonderful members of the Kraken crew, the Kraken Nation. You guys rock.
If you have any questions for us, as always, feel free to send them to us on Twitter or Instagram or. I am on Bluesky. You are not on Blue sky, though, right? No.
JT Brown:Nope.
Piper Shaw:So anyways. Or we also do have a phone number that you can find on our website as well to leave voicemail.
So anyways, I believe that always runs at the end of the episode. Grant does a little plug. So anyway, thank you all for joining us very much. And wherever you are, go.
Grant Beery:Kraken 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?
-: JT Brown:Grant. Insert audio here, please. Good job.
Piper Shaw:Okay.
JT Brown:Okay. Refocus.
