[united]

Chris Snow and Don Maloney today. Was really excited for this one.

- Maloney on the Jets: Hellebuyck is their key obviously, liability is their blueline, very strong powerplay, key for the Flames is discipline. Thinks it's an even matchup, but laughs as he mentions he thought the Avalanche were a good matchup for the Flames and we know how that went.
- Snow on the Jets: Teams have played each other very good. Jets are well coached. Have been grinding analytics and video the past couple weeks not only on the Jets but how the Flames can be different when things restart.
- Think the games will be very physical initially as players won't be sharp with the puck so more opportunities for physicality.
- Don't know where their hub is yet.
- Again they go out of their way to dedicate a segment specifically to Lucic's impact: off-ice, mental, physical. Think they've done this every call (along with a couple other topics) - take that as you will.
- Snow has yet to find another player in the history of the NHL who has been an average player through his 20s and then all-star caliber through his 30s. The Flames' analytics team can measure every touch of the puck now and Gio's metrics still haven't started declining.
- Tough decision with Valimaki as it relates to upside vs expansion draft. Both Snow and Maloney think he has #1 potential. Snow compares him to Jaccob Slavin (who he thinks should be a Norris candidate but won't be) and has been sending Valimaki video of Slavin - Valimaki's feedback is he thinks he can bring more offence than Slavin.
- Season ticket holder refunds coming very soon.
- Snow mentioned that something that stood out in the Avalanche disaster last year was the inability to slow down the Avalanche down the middle. Team learned that all 200 feet of the ice are important and in the playoffs you can't cheat for offence like you can get away with in the regular season.
- Have heard of unofficial hubs where NHLers are travelling to train. Mentioned Phoenix and Miami as two spots with daily skates with up to 25 NHL players skating together now and they've heard the skates aren't just typical summer skates but more full NHL speed practices. Matthews leading the Phoenix group and Ovechkin/Malkin the Miami group. Those players want a one-week training camp where some players who haven't been able to skate yet, like Rieder in Germany for instance, want three weeks.
- Trade deadline: Gio's injury was bad enough they thought he may not play the rest of the regular season, Hamonic had a rib injury and maybe out for another month, Valimaki had no chance of coming back. Snow has been a huge fan of Gustaffson and they have had eyes on him for a while. Recognize they have traded many picks recently but thought the acquisition costs were worth the insurance policies. Wanted to take weight off Gio on both PP and PK.