Episode 90 - California Dreamin' - With Eric Stephens from The Athletic

California Dreamin' has different meanings for the teams in the Golden State.

The Ducks have dreams of winning the Pacific while the Sharks and Kings both have dreams of making the playoffs, despite both being in very different places five months ago.

Eric Stephens covers the California teams for The Athletic and joins Neil and Vic to share his insights as to where he sees these clubs heading into the final quarter of the regular season.

In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, we get into the trade deadline and how this year sets up for activity in relation to recent seasons. We'll also discuss already consummated deals and chat about the obstacles some outsiders are facing.

Bookending the Stephens chat, we return to the trade deadline where Neil shares players he believes will have new addresses by weeks end.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:30] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To.

[13:28] - Eric Stephens from the Athletic joins the show to talk the California clubs starting with the Kings, clearly the most underwhelming of the three and a team which still may be suffering from the hangover of the loss to the Oilers in last spring's opening round.

[16:49] - The possible effect captain Anze Kopitar's retirement may be having on the Kings.

[18:29] - The effects of the trade to acquire Artemi Panarin coupled with the loss of Kevin Fiala.

[20:41] - The realistic ceiling for the series...and it's not good according to Eric.

[23:10] - Going sharking and diving in to San Jose where Tuesday's game with Montreal displayed both their offensive prowess...and their defensive shortcomings.

[27:07] - Eric offers up his thoughts on the work of head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

[29:41] - Neil notes, and Eric agrees, how great the atmosphere is in San Jose when the product is worth seeing.

[31:46] - Talking some Ducks, a team that was in the Sharks position a season ago and is a mix of young, budding stars surrounded by experience.

[35:29] - Neil points out the difficult of seeing hockey in the Anaheim market compared to Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

[38:50] - So what's the realistic expectation for the Ducks according to Eric?

[42:03] - Coming full circle back to the Kings and whether attendance has suffered amidst a disappointing season.

[45:55] - Neil offers up the players he sees most likely to be dealt by Friday's deadline.

[49:35] - A trade involving a defenseman rumored to be moving on from Vancouver.

[52:22] - Personnel Notes.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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