In Episode 184, Paul and Aaron review the opening games of the regular season, finding a mix of frustration and excitement as they analyze individual performances and the team’s overall competitive level.
Mackenzie Blackwood’s “Heroic” Debut
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made a massive impression in his first official start, keeping the Sharks competitive in a game where they were largely outmatched.
- The 51-Save Game: The hosts discussed Blackwood’s incredible performance against the Colorado Avalanche, where he faced 52 shots and made 51 saves.
- Keeping the Game Alive: Blackwood was credited with keeping the team “in it” until the very end, ultimately falling in a shootout after a scoreless overtime.
- Defensive Workload: Paul and Aaron noted that this level of workload is likely to be a recurring theme for Blackwood this season given the team’s defensive struggles.
Thomas Bordeleau’s First Goal of the Season
While Thomas Bordeleau had a quiet start, he managed to secure a major milestone early in the year.
- The Milestone: Bordeleau scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season during the opening stretch of games.
- “Invisible” Spells: Before finding the back of the net, Aaron noted that Bordeleau had been somewhat “invisible” in the Vegas game, highlighting the consistency challenges faced by young skilled players.
- Growth and Expectation: The hosts shared a clip from Coach David Quinn, who emphasized that for a player of Bordeleau’s skill and size, “skating and checking are non-negotiable” at the NHL level to become a more well-rounded player.
Filip Zadina’s Immediate Impact
The most exciting offensive storyline of the episode was the debut of Filip Zadina.
- The First Goal: Zadina scored the Sharks’ first goal of the season in their opener against the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Highest Drafted Player: The hosts highlighted that Zadina is currently the highest-drafted player on the active roster (6th overall), bringing a level of skill the team desperately needs.
- ** Dangerous with the Puck**: Aaron praised Zadina as the “most skilled and most dangerous looking person with the puck” every time he was on the ice.
Roster Critiques and “Stinking It Up”
The episode did not shy away from the team’s overall poor performance in the early games.
- The “Barbie” Breakdown: Alexander Barabanov (referred to as “Barbie”) was singled out for a poor performance, with Aaron noting missed coverages and turnovers that led to wide-open goals for opponents.
- Coach Quinn’s Blunt Assessment: A recurring audio clip featured Coach David Quinn stating plainly, “We just stunk,” which the hosts used to characterize several phases of the game, including the power play and penalty kill.
