Suzuki, Nadeau, Robidas Connect | Chicago's Top Line Dominance #canes

A nine-game point streak tells a great story, but the real drama is how Chicago keeps building wins through chaos. Andrew Rinaldi (On Tap Sports Chicago) & I dig into the spark behind the surge: a top line that clicks in motion, a room that adapted to a midseason coaching change, and two goalies who turned the crease into a strength. The Central is stacked and Grand Rapids is posting historic numbers, yet the Wolves are hanging in second because the details are improving where it matters most.

Up front, Ryan Suzuki’s vision, Bradly Nadeau’s evolving toolkit, and Justin Robidas’ relentless motor form a line that can beat you in different ways every night. Skyler Brind’Amour is rounding out his game—strong on draws, reliable on the kill, and now adding offense that eases pressure on the stars. We also examine Felix Unger-Sörum’s recent drought and why the power play needs simpler decisions and more pucks to the net to bounce back. Injury notes on Juha Jääskä and Giovanni Smith add context to the depth puzzle and how minutes are being allocated across the bottom six.

On the back end, constant call-ups forced rapid development for Aleksi Heimosalmi and Bryce Montgomery, while Gavin Bayreuther’s leadership steadies the room. Cal Foote’s on-ice impact shows up in netfront control and cleaner exits. Domenick Fensore continues a breakout, pairing smarter activations with firm house defending and power-play poise—traits that draw NHL attention. In goal, Cayden Primeau’s AHL pedigree and Amir Miftakhov’s tightened positioning have produced near-identical numbers, proving the alternating rhythm is working.

Highlights:

• Top-line chemistry with Suzuki, Nadeau, Robidas
• Brind’Amour’s rise as a trusted two-way center
• Coaching shift to Anastas and team response
• Unger-Sörum’s slowdown and power-play fixes
• Rookie center minutes and costly penalties
• Injuries and timelines for Jääskä and Giovanni Smith
• Blue line churn, Foote’s impact, Fensore’s leap
• Bayreuther’s leadership and development effects
• Primeau–Miftakhov tandem stabilizing results
• Grand Rapids as measuring stick and upcoming tests

With another Grand Rapids showdown looming, the bar is clear. Keep Friday’s standard—fast, structured, disciplined—and second place is defendable. Drift toward Saturday’s mistakes, and the pack will close fast. Listen, share your take on the biggest lever for improvement—power play, depth scoring, or blue line health—and if you’re enjoying the show, tap subscribe, hit the bell, and leave a review to help others find us.

Chapters

• 1:03 Streak Context And Top Performers
• 2:47 Adversity, Depth, And Consistency
• 4:47 Coaching Change To Spiros Anastas
• 8:00 The Top Line’s Chemistry And Roles
• 12:50 Brind’Amour’s Two-Way Growth
• 17:46 Felix Unger-Sörum’s Slowdown And PP Woes
• 21:46 Rookie Centers, Penalties, And Fourth Line
• 25:49 Injury Updates: Jäskä And Giovanni Smith
• 27:54 Blue Line Turnover And Cal Foote Debate
• 33:26 Fensori’s Leap And Bayreuther’s Leadership
• 39:43 Goaltending Duo: Primeau And Miftakhov
• 45:49 Grand Rapids Litmus Test
• 50:30 Who To Watch Next Month

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:32

Well, Chicago Wolves have been on a tear with points in nine straight games heading into last night's game and vaulting them into second place in the central division. The Wolves have been led by the top line: Ryan Suzuki, Bradley Nadeau, and Justin Robadoc, along with strong contributions from Skylar Brindemore and D-Man Dominic Vinsori. In addition, goaltenders Zamir Miftikov and Caden Primo have been sharp. Joining me to talk about the recent run of the Wolves and what to expect in the coming months, I'm delighted as always to welcome in Star Treker Insider for the Chicago Wolves, Andrew Rinaldi. Hey Andrew, how's it going?

SPEAKER_01: 1:17

Happy New Year, Tom. It's uh, you know, if it's going any uh any bit as good as 2025 went, I think we're gonna be all set here in 26.

SPEAKER_00: 1:28

Listen, happy new year to you as well, Andrew, and I hope that uh the holiday time was good for you.

SPEAKER_01: 1:35

I might be about 15 pounds heavier than I was heading into it, but you know what? That's uh that's that's a good thing, right?

SPEAKER_00: 1:42

Yeah, well it sounds like it went well, and and uh I'm delighted and hope that uh the folks listening or watching had a great uh Christmas and holiday time as well. Okay, so the Wolves uh playing some great hockey, as I mentioned, heading into last night's game against Grand Rapids. Uh obviously the best team in the in the league by far. Uh they have been on a bit of a terror. They've gone nine games, earning at least one point in each of those games. And they've been doing it with uh call-ups to the canes, injuries, whatever. Um, and they're sitting at second place in the central. That's not bad at all. What can you uh we can tell us about your thoughts about uh about the Wolves right now?

SPEAKER_01: 2:22

This is a team that's really kind of faced certain levels of adversity here. I mean, just with the call-ups and other stuff that went off the ice that we'll get to talking about later in this episode, and they've still managed to just pile all the points back. I think maybe other than one game against Manitoba where like they were into it. It was like a 2-0 game, and then at the end of the third, just kind of the wheels fell off, and I think the final ended up being 5-0, but they haven't really been like blown out of the water or anything like that. Like there's have they found the guys to come in and and be plug into some of these roles and and found ways to contribute to this team being competitive on a night-to-night basis, which you know for young players is kind of exactly what you want. You know, it's not really a team that takes nights off. Yeah, they might have have nights where they have it and nights where they don't, but you're never really gonna question their effort in bringing it. And it's it that's huge to to a young team like this. So, yeah, they've been piling the points up. Um, there's you know, a couple teams that are on their backs that are trying to take that spot, but they've been they've been hanging firm, they've been hanging in there. I mean, obviously the point totals in the central division are a little skewed a bit. Everything's being siphoned to the top because Grand Rap doesn't like the chair. But um, but the Wolves are are are giving everyone that they uh that comes at them everything that they can handle. And and I've I've really liked kind of what I've seen the first half of the year. It's hard to think that we're like halfway through the season already. And uh, and you know, it's just kind of if you they can continue to maintain that effort, you know, it's it's just gonna lead to more points and standings by the time it's all said and done.

SPEAKER_00: 4:16

Well, and you know, in the midst of all this, it was interesting because a very surprising move was made with the Wolves. Uh, mid-December, they decided to uh take uh Cam Abbott and replace him with uh Spiro's Anastas, who I know you're very high on. Uh that was a bit of a surprise. I think a lot of us kind of saw that and wondered, what's going on here? Uh what did you uh what did you see?

SPEAKER_01: 4:39

Yeah, it's I mean, the wolves were in third place at the time. It wasn't like they were down at the bottom of the division. And it it just it came out of left field. There was um, you know, there wasn't a whole lot of of explanation, at least at the and the surface level from Carolina and on why this move was made. And for you know, Chicago, Carolina hadn't and GM Darren York kind of handle their whole hocke hockey ops. So the uh the Wolves business is just kind of like, well, this is this is the move that we're making here. Um and I know that there's you know certainly a lot of speculation because right, if you're not at the bottom of the standings and this kind of move gets made, you you immediately start to assume the worst. And everyone that I've had uh you know had had chats with about this is is you know, it's not necessarily a matter of like this. I mean, Cam Abbott's been a great guy to all the guys in the locker room and and outside. It's just I think it just had some philosophical differences between um you know what the the organization wanted, what he wanted. And I mean, he's still in the Carolina organization in another capacity. His twin brother still runs in hockey operations, so it's not like you know, right before Christmas, all right, we're just gonna kick Cam to the curtain.

SPEAKER_00: 6:04

You're fired.

SPEAKER_01: 6:05

That'll be an interesting holiday conversation at dinner. No, it wasn't anything like this, and it's odd for sure. Like, I I was I you know, it's just kind of in my nature to be like, you know, okay, there must be more, there must be more, and sometimes there's not. And whether that's what they're they're giving or whether you know that's it is what it is, I I I tend to believe that, you know, it's just kind of maybe it was just it was Spiros' time to to kind of pick up and take the reins there a little earlier than possible. And and as you can see, the teams kind of responded with this point streak, he's been doing great with them. And uh I yeah, odd situation for sure, but uh you know, everyone's sitting here going, oh no, this is malicious, this is like what's going on. Uh that is not the case in the least bit. So I just want to make sure I put Ivory ones behind that ease in in that regard.

SPEAKER_00: 7:03

Yeah, I mean, I think clearly the Keynes have decided to keep them in the organization, so there's something there that uh that you know they felt uh needed to change. And you know, you've talked very highly about uh Sphero's Anastasis, of course, in the past, and and we know he's a guy that's uh he definitely has the support of the hockey club, and we can see it by the performance uh since he took position. So it's great to talk. So let's talk about some things on the ice, a little bit more fun. Uh one of the things that has really caught my attention of late has been the terror that the top line has been on. And of course, led by none other than Justin Robodaugh, he's been just smoking hot. Um, what can you tell us about that line? And what can you tell us about Justin Robodaugh?

SPEAKER_01: 7:47

You know, I at first I was kind of, you know, we put this all together last year. It was the same line, Suzuki Nadel, but with Yuhayasuka there. And you know, putting Robodah in the wing, I was like, okay, like it sounds good, but I don't want this team to be, you know, too top heavy or anything. Um you know, players, players play. That's something that I've kind of understood in this game. And uh it doesn't really kind of matter their style. Uh like Robodon and Nidaux and Zoo kind of met chemistry immediately. And they've I mean they had a real pretty goal against Grand Rapids the other night. And it's it's uh it's it's fun watching that kind of brand of hockey in motion. And everyone kind of knows their role there. You know, you got Zook, who, you know, even when he's right in the middle of the slot, he's gonna he's gonna pass it off and just find like he's the playmaker, obviously in the dough. You know, they're looking to him anytime they need a goal. And and Robodah is the kind of guy who you know he'll provide offense, he'll get to the front of the net, he'll get down into the corners, he'll do it, he'll do whatever's asked of him. And it's it's it's such a good, it's such a good mix because I think Yaska kind of had a similar type of of style there that Robodah does. So it's it was just a kind of a seamless transition of like, okay, we don't have this this big vet that we can depend on, but we know we have this motor and Robodah, who plays similar, who's got a lot of the same traits. Plug him in and and let let's keep this let's keep this machine going. And while I still think that they might they might be a little too like again, Bradley Nadeau's got an NHL shot, but he doesn't have to be the only goal scoring option. Um, but at the same time, you know, again, the other night against Grand Rapids, he was the one playing playmaker to Robodah, who had a nice finish against uh Sebastian Cosa, the best goalie by far in this league this year. And you know, you kind of just want to see like that maintain and continue on. I don't think there's gonna be any issue. We've seen enough of it through this year and last year, what these guys are capable of doing. So just keep playing their game, and this team's gonna be in a good position knowing what you're getting from these guys every night.

SPEAKER_00: 10:07

You know, one thing that uh you you look at Robodaugh last year, 20 goals, 35 assists. He had a great year. He's uh he's tracking better than that this year, and it seems like I think maybe the Kanes have an interest to turn him into a winger. Uh it's kind of an interesting thought. Uh, but he's a guy that's more likely to succeed uh at the NHL level, I think, as a winger. He's proven he can do a lot for you. He's a guy that can take draws with the right shot. He's a guy that can definitely score goals. Uh he's proving that right now. And, you know, he's working with uh the show, as you call it, uh Bradley Nadeau, uh called the show now, uh, who was, by the way, player of the week in the AHL December 7th. Isn't that something?

SPEAKER_01: 10:52

Yeah, yeah. He's been uh he's I mean, you know, we've kind of known what to expect from him for a while now. And so, yeah, you get these, you get these goals, you get these points and bunches, and again, I've you know, I I I'm gonna I've said it a bunch already, I'm gonna keep repeating it. Like, I I love the points from Bradley, but seeing the rest of his game round up, seeing him become more physical this year. Like, I love that he's using his body, especially on the four check, to really separate defenders from the puck. Adding more to his game to not just be a guy who sits here waiting for the puck to come to him. You know, he's going and like that, like that Robodot goal. You know, Suzuki gets the puck down low. Who's the first guy there? Bradley Nadeau. He's not sitting there waiting, like, oh, I'm just waiting for him for the shot to come. He's getting after the puck and he's setting up his other guys, he's expanding more and more to his game, which is gonna make him an effective player at the next level. As you know, again, as opposed to a guy who just scores and does nothing else. Um so yeah, I I love seeing that kind of stuff. You know, he's player of the week and points and bunches, but I love the added little details into his game that continue to show you know why he's grow he's continuing to grow and and be an option for this team and franchise, hopefully moving forward.

SPEAKER_00: 12:20

Well, and there's an interesting scenario here. I mean, we we look at uh some of the challenges of the Hurricanes right now. And the Canes, they put a lot of their eggs into one basket. Of course, they've got their big line now, which is really starting to look interesting with Eelers, Specznikov, and Aho. Uh they do have Jarvis coming back, but quite frankly, you know, they're they're a little thin on the wings and for scoring. And you wonder if at some point they're gonna start to uh consider hey, maybe we should be taking a better look at uh Bradley Nadeau and putting him on, you know, up in a place where he can actually get some offense for the Canes. I I thought during his call-ups and the eight games that he played this year with the Canes, he had a couple of goals, but I really was impressed with what you said too, Andrew. He was playing a hard game, a heavy game. And he was getting the puck, he was making things happen, he was on the fourth line mostly, and but he was making things happen out there. And and he wasn't a guy that was a passenger and he wasn't looking just to get the puck and score goals. I think he's become a much more complete player. And I think he's very, very, very, very close if he isn't ready right now. Adole, love him. And as you call him Zook, uh, he's always there. He's uh seems to be playing very well right now, and actually scoring the odd goal, which is kind of fun. I know that's a rarity for him. He has just four this season, but but he's a guy that again uh you really like what what he does. So that line clearly is the is the is the engine that makes it happen for this this Wolves team. But somebody that I want to talk about a little bit, and and you know, I seem to be maybe his biggest booster, and that's Gyler Rendemore. Um, you know, he's been scoring some goals, he's a guy that uh defensively you know you can count on him, he's solid in the face-off dot. He even showed this with the canes. He's a guy that you can bring out there and he's gonna do some heavy lifting. And if he adds OFS to the mix, all of a sudden, you know, you got a player that's that's very interesting. And I think from what I've seen, he seems to be playing well this year.

SPEAKER_01: 14:16

Yeah, he's uh he's adding a lot to his game that I wasn't really like not to say that I was like I didn't think he had a ton of offense to bring to his game, but he's he's showing more and he's doing it more consistently. So he's not quite just that guy who you know would be out there to take the face off in overtime and then go and skate back to the bench for a line change. He's he's becoming a more rounded player in in all three zones, honestly. And you know, I think kind of being on on Josiah Slavin's wing, or Josiah Slavin being on his wing. Right. And you know, you have that that that veteran presence for a while. They they often tag team together on on the top of the key in the penalty kill. And it's you know, it's it's showing in dividends, it's showing in in the ice time and and in the numbers as well. I had to check because I was like, I just wanted to to make sure and double check myself. But yeah, he's he's on pace for for career high and and numbers offensively as well. Yes. Yeah, and so you know, when you can again, it's it's it's almost similar to kind of like, you know, to like with Nidaux on on the other side of things, you know, it's like okay, you know what you're getting from Brindamore defensively.

SPEAKER_02: 15:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 15:40

Um, you know what you're getting in the face-off diet, you know what you're getting in the penalty kill, you're getting someone who's defensively respondable, who's smart, who knows how to read the game. Now you're getting a guy who's who's going back on the other side with the puck on a stick, and you, you know, who's chipping in a couple of points here and there, and that just adds so much more to your team. It takes the pressure off of that top line that seems that you know it needs to go out there and and pot three or four to give you guys a chance every night. It's it and and you know, the coaches love that kind of guy that they know that they can rely on like that. So it's, you know, I've said it before on this podcast, you know, I was never not that I wasn't ever really sold on bringing Skylar Brendan more in, but I always felt like it was it was a name uh to bring in. And I'm I'm glad to have been proven wrong time and time again about that, because this guy he brings it every night, and I enjoy watching him.

SPEAKER_00: 16:35

I think he can play, and and you know, watching some of the highlights in December, he's he's making some excellent offensive plays. And uh, and again, uh, you know, chipping in where where he's needed. He's he's he's just like Jordan Stahl in many ways, right? He he's he's doing a lot of heavy lifting out there at Center Ice, he's playing big minutes and he's getting it done. So I'm I'm really pleased for him. He's got nine goals in 29 games, so he's definitely on track to have his best season in the American Hockey League. And I hope he uh he pots more than 20. I think it'd be great. Um now on the other side of the ledger a couple of guys that I was kind of hoping to see more from. Um Felix Ungershorn. Now he was on a tear, and we talked about him last month. And oh boy, Felix, you know, he's he's incredible now. He's found his way, and he seems to have quieted down just a little bit. What's going on with Felix?

SPEAKER_01: 17:29

I think it's uh well, I mean, I still there's a lot of good habits that I still see in his game. Um, you know, in the power play, I saw he had a real shifty play the other day that set up, I want to say it was Bey Ruther. It was it was a couple it was about a week ago, so he was still in Chicago. Um and it just, you know, it just doesn't it doesn't go in. Now, I mean I I don't think it's coincidental to see Felix's drought coming in in the time when the offense has also been struggling across the team as a whole. Um the Wolves have scored, I believe the number was 11 goals in their last seven games. Um it hasn't the offense hasn't been hasn't been jelling like it was earlier in the season. So I but I you know you see the zeros and and you start to assume like, oh, like what's going on? Is he playing bad? Like, I don't necessarily think he's playing bad. I mean, he's a playmaker, so to get those assists, you gotta have the guys on the other side to start to bury, and some of the guys like Evan Veerling that he was playing with have been shifted around, and and they they've kind of lost some of their hot scoring touch that they had earlier in the season. But you know, this is kind of it's not necessarily like a good thing, but I see it as an opportunity for this kid because yeah, early in the season, feeling confident, feeling great, and lighting the world on fire. Okay, now here's some adversity thrown to you. Because I tell you what, if you're gonna make it up to the next level, you gotta know how to battle through because it's not gonna be all daisies and roses up there either. So I'm I'm very interested to seeing how Felix responds to to uh to this adversity. Is he going to kind of fall back how he was last year, where now you start seeing him second guessing his options and and maybe forcing some plays that become turnovers, or is he gonna keep playing that brand of hockey that was successful for him earlier in the year? And I'm yeah, I get a feeling that he's he's gonna lean towards the ladder of that. Um, and I think it's you know it's a matter of uh I mean, what was the number? The the the Wolves power play is hitting somewhere around 14%. Wow. And um it's it's it's it's kind of rough. Now, again, you know, I get it. Nidow's been called up back and forth, Fensori's been called up back and forth, and things are are shifting around, but that means opportunities, that means you know, you when you're you're out there, get the the chance to go and and make something happen and and shoot the puck out just a little more. It's almost kind of like Ryan Suzuki syndrome where where he just he's you got a shot, use the shot. And and so um, you know, just I think a few things that just tweak out, and I you know, to get right back on the pony. I don't think he's very far far off, but you know, when the margins are Paper thin, it can, you know, a little drought can seem like a bigger deal than it actually is.

SPEAKER_00: 20:39

Well, and and you know, last month and when we talked about him previously, he was smoking hot on the power play. That's where he was scoring. He was uh he seemed like he was really getting comfortable with firing the buck, and uh, and he seemed to be, we talked a lot about that. His shot was much more definitive, and he was getting in there and scoring. And I think that's that's the area where he's going to drive his offense, in my view. Because again, uh moving Robodah to the wing that takes away a centerman that could have been with him. You've now got Pavlichev, and then of course you've got uh you know Brindamore on the other side at the other center spot. And then the one of the players I wanted to talk about is patrolling that fourth line center. And this is a bit of an interesting one because you know he signed in the offseason as a youngster coming out of the draft. We had a lot of hopes for him, but he's you know, again, yeah, you know, kind of like in some measure Alex Nikesian with the Canes. You know, you don't just come in and you know take the world by storm. You've got to, you know, earn your spurs and get in there and uh you know take some of the tough stuff with the good. And I'm I'm talking about Ivan Ryabkin, of course. And Ryabkin is a guy that uh has huge potential, but not uh not going quite right for him yet, I guess. Uh what's going on with Ivan?

SPEAKER_01: 21:49

Well, it's hard to realize your potential when you're sitting in the penalty box for as as much as this young kid has. And you know, I it's it's a double-edged sword because I always I love the the aggression that a guy can bring to his hockey game, but I don't like the high stickings, the trippings, the the stuff that, you know, the the 30 seconds left in regulation that leads into a uh a power play goal for Iowa in overtime, or coming right out of a uh right out of a power play, and you're out there in the second unit, and the power play ends and you trip a guy up. Or just uh all okay, so there's like all penalties are momentum killers, but he's just got a knack of finding the most momentumist killers out there. And you know, he's he's a young kid. I'm not gonna pile on him too much for for any of that. He's you know, he's learning his way, he's doing it on fourth line minutes, which you know kind of it it kind of puts a cap on your ice time already, as is. So I I yeah, he's you know only got one goal on the season so far, and he's still kind of working his way up into the lineup. But you know, part of that is is you know learning and and continuing to grow as a youngster. And part of that is you know, you gotta earn your way in. If you're taking these kinds of penalties, it's gonna, you're it's gonna be harder for a coach to trust you and be like, all right, let's let's throw him in on a on a power play when we're in a 2-2 game with five minutes left in the third, not knowing that you might stick a goalie in the face and put your guys back out on the penalty kill. Um again, you know, part of it, it's when I like when I say I love the aggression, you know, I love the the the getting in a guy's face and and being physical, not like the stick penalties I can I can do without. But if you're getting a two-minute roughing, like sometimes you just gotta say it, do it to send a message. But um, you know, again, I'm not gonna pile on the kid. He's got you know tons of talent, tons of uh, you know, uh a great future ahead of him, and and and I I love the attitude that he brings, and I think it's gonna eventually you know blossom into into a really solid player here at this level. It's just you know, you gotta you gotta work your way in into that opportunity first. And you know, right now he's he's he's he's where he his play has uh has put him on on the fourth line and with you know I think limited opportunities on uh on special teams.

SPEAKER_00: 24:30

Well, and and you know what, uh it's not all bad. You've got uh Gleb Trikazov also uh on that group as well, and and you know, both of those guys still trying to find their way. And I think the fortune with uh the wolves is that they can actually put them on the fourth line and kind of groom them or bring them along a little bit more slowly. Um both highly talented players, as we know, and and of course they've got uh unique Turkot over on the patrolling the left wing with him, so he's there to protect the youngsters and uh and does it uh very nicely, as you know. Um I wanted to ask you a quick question as we round out the forward discussion. A couple of guys that we really expected to contribute in a big way this year uh with the Wolves not playing, and that's of course Yuha Yasuka and Giovanni Smith. What's going on with those guys?

SPEAKER_01: 25:18

Yeah, there was uh uh update on on the broadcast from those guys last week, I believe. Um Yasuka is he's back on the ice, and he they're expecting him back sooner rather than later. As for Giovanni, I don't even believe he's he's back uh to skating yet. And I I just I think that at first they didn't really anticipate it being out long term, and whatever the nature of his injury is, because again, you know, we're oh we're given so much on the injury front. Um he's you know, it's it's it's been determined that it's gonna keep him out a little longer. Uh, not really a timetable for for him to get back. It's again it's hard to predict when he's not even skating out there and saying, like, I'm feeling good or I'm not feeling good. Um, so you know, that's that's it's it's a tough one. You'd you'd hope to get, you know, there is I mean a lot of grit in in the forward lineup between when those two guys are available. So, you know, you're kind of hoping maybe like around playoff time, hopefully we'll be able to get to see Giovanni back. Um Yasuka, hopefully, within, you know, by the end of the month or something, he'll be in the lineup, and that way you can start to shift those shift those lines around a little bit, add some more depth, and you know, give some help to maybe some guys who might be struggling with uh with the offense. You know, obviously we talked a lot about that top line being able to fire up, but if you're not getting support from the other three, it just makes it a lot harder to kind of continue to gather those points in. So yeah. Hopefully sooner rather than later on, Yaska. And for Giovanni, it's you know, just gotta put prayers up in hopes that you know it's not anything too serious for him.

SPEAKER_00: 27:08

Yeah, and you know, I mean, a guy like you, uh Yaska, I think if he had been healthy, might have even seen some time with the Kings this year because he's one of those guys that uh you can just drop in and he's gonna work hard and and uh he's never gonna hurt you on the ice. And I think they could use more of that for sure. Um okay, so let's talk a little bit about the blue. Um bit of a work in progress. You've seen uh a lot of players out. Of course, uh Charles Alexis Lego went out for an extended period. You've had uh Joel Nestrom has been up with the Canes virtually the entire season, except for a few games here and there. Um and you've had others called up. Uh you mentioned Dominic Vensori, Dom was up for a cup of coffee, Gavin Bewutter has been up for a cup of coffee. Uh all of these guys kind of uh, you know, in transition here through the season, and they were expected to be key parts, uh, of course, of the Wolves. Now, uh you did see an addition. Uh we saw an interesting one in December, and uh they brought on uh Cal Foot, a bit of a controversial signing. What's uh what's your thought about Cal?

SPEAKER_01: 28:14

He's he's uh I'm trying to like, you know, yeah, it has been very controversial having having him in the lineup and everything. I'm just trying to talk about the guy on the ice. And and um I know it's always it's it's it's it's tough, you know, you to have all the all the noise behind you and try and all block out. And he's I mean, he's been a contributor. There's there's a reason that this guy's come in and they've put him immediately on the top line, and it's you know, he's put up four points, he's looked good in front of the net, and keeping the puck away from the goaltenders. I mean, I think that there's no coincidence seeing the some uh some improved save percentage numbers from some guys, well, one guy in particular who was struggling early in the year, who's now kind of seen to stabilize on on that front. And I think part of it is you know having having a guy like Foot out in front of the net to lend a hand. And um, you know, again, it it's when you know you've been uh had a lot of of you know, I guess chaos on the blue line with three guys called up at a certain point, you know, you you do need a bit of a stabilizing force there. And yeah, he you know, Foot's been around the game for a while and knows you know, he's he knows how to play and what's expected every single night. And that's and and that's an example for you know these these young guys, like a guy like say Bryce Montgomery, who's out there, right to to continue to go to grow and to bring it every single night. So again, not not with the well, everything else with on withstanding, I can't say a whole lot on the air about that, but but just from what he's bringing on the ice, it's you know, it's it's paying dividends for the wolves and and for their young decor.

SPEAKER_00: 30:15

Well, and I think, you know, with all these players missing at different times, of course, they've been relying on uh, as you said, uh Montgomery, Bryce Montgomery, and and even uh Lexi Hemosalmy uh to play you know significant minutes for them. And they were not really expected to be regulars at one point. It uh you know, I think Hema Salmy was probably the seventh defenseman, and Montgomery was uh earmarked for the gargoyles. So um kind of an interesting uh kind of turn of events there. And I, you know, again, both of these guys have been filling in and uh doing an admirable job. Uh something like the work I think of Yol Nistro and with the hurricanes. But boy, if they could get some of these others back, it would really be a shot in the arm. Now, uh when you look at that then, who's been standing out? I did notice that uh my guy, Don Fensori, is uh is really racking up the points. He's tied for fourth in the league for D-Men in points, and he's uh he's magic. What the fuck? What are you seeing with Don?

SPEAKER_01: 31:16

I mean, yeah, we you you know I know you're a big uh big Fensori fan. I know I am as well. And I he I I don't know if this was within the window of the last time that we had a chat, but uh a game against Milwaukee. I think it was Jake Luccini tried to bully him, and he fell into the same kind of mistake where you think, oh, you know, Dom's just you know, he's he's under six foot. He's you know, I can I can grab this guy and push him around. And no, Dom got the better of him and in that one. And uh, you know, I I I would think that you know, this is what his third season in the AHL now. Yes. That that some of the opponents, especially, you know, in in these divisions where you you see each other so frequently, you'd start to learn that you know, this guy is just a bulldog back there. And it's it's it's beyond just size, you know. Uh he he's he's just so smooth on his skates, he's got a great eye to to distribute the puck and to you know continue, and and you he knows when to jump forward and to lend a hand on offense and when he's gotta stay back and and protect the house. And you know, I I I just that's one of the uh defenders' best attributes is is their mind, you know, and just knowing when what you gotta do, when you gotta do it. I mean, yeah, a lot of times jumping up is the is uh the smart play, but you know what? If you get if they're coming back the other way and you're you're left on an island, it's it it's not really you know it's not uh it's not really conducive. So I think he's he's he's done a better job as the years gone on of picking his spots and knowing you know what to do. I think he does a great job defending the house and his own end. And he he he loves getting into it, you know. Again, this is like it doesn't he doesn't go looking, he doesn't go looking for trouble or anything like that. But when trouble comes to him, he and you think you're just gonna bully him, he he's gonna bulldog you right down to the ice. And I I love that about him. He's he's been uh I mean with all these other call-ups and everything, he's he's been the guy and on the blue line, along with you know, when he was here, I I really enjoyed Gavin Bayreuther as you know the veteran pairing up there with him. And uh, you know, it's but he's taken so many good positive strides in his game over the last couple years. It really has been awesome to see Dom kind of continue to grow and and mature as a player at this level.

SPEAKER_00: 34:04

Yeah, and I think Dom's getting to that stage, uh Andrew, where he's gonna be of interest to other teams. Um, you know, he's a guy that can quarterback a power play, he's he's definitely proven he can kill penalties now, he's he's solid defensively and and he's accountable back there. He he doesn't have a lot more to prove, I don't think, at the HL level. And I believe that he's uh he's a player that other teams are gonna come calling for uh if the canes are trying to do deals uh that include prospects. So yeah, uh and and you know what for me I just love to see Dom in the NHL because uh you know, like like I said before, I'm a huge fan of Dom's. Um Gavin Beiruther has been an interesting one. As we know, he came in uh to play take that role of uh Joaquim Ryan or Ty Smith from last year, of that trend that can come in and help these youngsters like uh you know, like Dominic Bedenka or you know, whoever in the blue. Uh and when he's been there, he seems to have played very, very well. What uh what have you seen with Gavin?

SPEAKER_01: 35:07

He's I I don't think that he was anticipating the role that he had on this team when he came in at first, but um I mean at this rate, I would it's hard to give anyone like the number one number on this squad. I think they do a good job of kind of spacing everyone out, but I I feel like Bay Ruther just kind of feels like like the number one guy at this point in terms of who you can depend on in all three zones. He you know, he's been able to contribute a lot offensively, more so than I was actually anticipating from him. Uh you know, he's been an anchor on on the defensive side, been great in front of the net. I've like I've really come to enjoy Gavin Beiruther and what he's he's brought to this game. On top of, I've you know, I've mentioned the you know, just being a veteran, being a leader in the locker room, and just what that does for guys like Badinka and and Hey Mo Salmy and all that, you know, it's it's more than just the habits on the ice, it's the habits off the ice as well. And and he's been, you know, he's been a great leader for these guys in the locker room and everything, and and and they all look up to him. And it's it's you know, it shows on the ice the impact that he has off the ice as well, as um as as a leader for this for this whole core and the whole this whole D unit, and that's something I want to talk to Spiros about and in terms of how he he attacks the D unit now versus you know when he was as an assistant coach and everything.

SPEAKER_00: 36:48

Actually, and handled the D, right?

SPEAKER_01: 36:50

Exactly. So but Bay Ruther's been, you know, he's been a huge part of that since since the beginning of the year, and as the call-ups came, it's been even more apparent. And you know, he I think he's gonna continue to to carve out that number one role as the year goes on.

SPEAKER_00: 37:08

He's I mean, you know, as long as he doesn't get any more call-ups to Carolina, I I hope not, but well, I think I think at some point he may get pushed, and uh, I say that because of course, if uh Charles Alexis Legaux and Joel Nstrom return to the Wolves, all of a sudden you're gonna have some really top defenders. I I think the decor could be interesting. I mean, you think about Bay Ruther and uh Don Fensori and Charles Alexis Legaux and Joel Nestrom and Cal Foote and you know Dominic Badinka, Alexei Himasalmi, and so on. That's a pretty good decor. Yeah, yeah. Look forward to it. I hope it happens.

SPEAKER_01: 37:48

I hope so too. I've like the the for for as fun as it is to sometimes see guys come in and and and push past their role, I would also like a little help coming from up top to just especially around the playoff time. Like if you could just like one or two guys, like that would be great.

SPEAKER_00: 38:06

Well, I mean, a guy like Yuel Nistrom, who has played a lot of hockey now with the Canes, uh, he's gonna be a tremendous addition to the Wolves. And uh, you know, assuming he ends up back with Chicago, and he's gonna bring a lot, you know, from his experience in the NHL, he can bring that and you know interpret that back into the EHL, and that'll be great. So, and we know what Charles Alexis Legaux can do, so that's great. Um, okay, so eCor kind of a work in progress. We'll continue to monitor that again. A lot uh depends on injuries and call-ups and all the rest of it. And we've talked a lot about that, that uh nobody really cares. That's the way the AHL is. You know, you uh you see players come and go for whatever reasons. Um in any case, uh, we'll keep an eye on that. Now let's talk goaltending because this is an area that I've really, really been excited about. Now, the big news we talked about it last time was uh, of course, Caden Primo uh grabbed off waivers, sent down to the wolves where we expected him all along. And then Amir Miftikov. Now, Miftikoff had come off just a terrible training camp uh with with the Canes. It started kind of slowly with uh with the Wolves, but he has been sensational lately. What can you tell us about Miftikov?

SPEAKER_01: 39:22

He just seems so much more stable and sure of his positioning in that. Like I felt earlier in the season, when you saw him moving laterally, he's just like flopping all over the place. And like Yeah, it might work for Dominic Kosak here and there, but it's not necessarily like what you want to see your goalie doing in the crease, going for a swim like that. And um and now I think you're seeing Miftikov being like more positionally sound, square to the shooter, and and just and just confident in in his ability to just square up and to and to make those stops. Part of it, I think, is you know, I mean, he's uh he yeah, he's not seeing the the bulwark of the uh the starts anymore. He's got Primo, who takes up most of those, and then he gets the look. And you know, I think that kind of that that rhythm of like one, two, one, two, one, two has really kind of helped the start, kind of put him into uh put him into his own rhythm and into his game. And I think the combination. Of that, the combination of you know, when you when you have another bona fide stud like Primo at this level, you can put him out there, and you you know, you don't have to worry, you you know what you're getting from them every night. So that kind of that settles him down. Now he settled into his game. I'm sure Standu Bickey probably had some work to do with him that's kind of got him dialed in. And um and and really I think a lot of it again with goaltending, it's just it's such a between the ears position that you know it once he's got he's kind of got settled in and comfortable, he's kind of been able to do his thing. I think before the Grand Rapids game on Friday, he'd won like four games in a row. So again, just building building confidence, feeling good about yourself. Uh, that's half the goal thing. And then again, when I when I say how how good the defense in front of him has been playing, it just has it helps out so much more that um you know just makes their job easier to, you know, you can see the puck, it's a lot easier to to save the puck, you know. So I, you know, I've I've I gotta admit I was a little worried about him at the beginning of the year, going like, you know, like this guy who was playing pro over in Europe and he he looks like a rookie, but no, once once he got settled in, um, he's been he's been looking really good over the last uh month and change. So I'm I'm really happy to see that out of him.

SPEAKER_00: 42:04

Well Stan Dubicke, of course, uh has had great success with the Russian goaltenders, as we know. And uh he had a lot of work with Piotr and he's done some good work with uh Ruzlan Kaziv. Um yeah, uh Miftikov, the canes saw something in him. They signed him for a reason. So we knew he had come off some tremendous years uh in the KHL. You know, interestingly enough, the numbers for Miftikov and uh Primo are very close. Uh Miftikov is uh 0.912 say percentage and Primo 914, and on the goals against uh Primo's 2.45 and Miftikov 2.47, it's insane how close they are. But uh but a great story, and I think uh giving some veteran again, some veteran goaltending. Uh we know that Primo is starred consistently at the AHL level, and we're seeing some great goaltending out of Neftikov now. So, and you know what? This this idea of uh alternating goaltenders was something that worked extremely well with the Hurricanes when they had had Piotr Kochekov and of course Freddie Anderson alternating, those guys were sensational. So it's a good uh proven technique, and uh I'm sure Spiro's Anastas is delighted that he's got a couple of goaltenders he can count on these days. And I know that not far behind is uh Ruzlan Kazib, who's been doing some good work down with the Gargoyles. So it's it's all good with the goaltending side. Um okay, so anything else from your mind before we go into uh final thoughts?

SPEAKER_01: 43:38

So, you know, for those of our listeners, which I assume is all of them, that uh aren't as familiar with uh, you know, with the AHL and everything, the Grand Rapids Griffins are have a record of after last night, I think 28-1-1-1, which is I know it sounds kind of weird to you. And it's one overtime loss and one shootout loss. Uh one regulation loss, and then 28 wins. Um, so if you thought that, you know, Colorado was doing some really extraordinary stuff. Grand Rapids right now is on pace to just, you know, shatter AHL records in a league that's been around for 90 years. So um they're doing some really incredible stuff. This past weekend was a bit of a litmus test. I thought the Wolves played one of their best games of the season on the road on Friday. They ran into uh you know a really well-coached Griffins team with the best goalie in the league this year, and Sebastian Coza, who had 47 stops and uh and turned them away each time in the shootout to uh to give that's just that's just what these teams do, right? Even when they don't play their best game, they find ways to win. And then and then on Saturday, they kind of flex their muscles and and really thoroughly dominated the wolves. And you saw kind of where the bar is for you know what what really good team. I mean, this is a historic team, this is even better than kind of what you're usually used to seeing out of out of this league. But I think it's good for for these guys to to run into a team like that every now and then and just kind of like oh, you're going in on this nice little point streak and you're feeling pretty good about yourself. Here's a nice little reality check. And um and and it's all, I mean, yeah, you you're always gonna, and it's just how this game works. You're gonna get punched in the mouth, and it's all about how you respond. And I thought this team came out with their best effort on Friday, but it's it it doesn't matter because then the next game it wasn't a bad effort, but it's just it's Grand Rapids, it's what they do. They came in and they they showed you how to play. Um, and so you know, you kind of want to want to see that that Friday effort every night and kind of see what we're gonna, you know, what that's what it's gonna take to make a uh, you know, stay into that second spot in the division and make a run in hopefully into the playoffs where you're bound to run into this team sooner rather than later.

SPEAKER_00: 46:17

Well, and they're gonna see them very quickly, as you know, because at the end of this month, the 30th and 31st, they're back up against the uh Grand Rapids Griffins. So another opportunity, as you say uh rightfully, Andrew, to uh to show us where they are uh in their development. Now, what do you see coming up in the coming month? Any players to look at? Anything you want us to kind of keep our eye on?

SPEAKER_01: 46:39

There was one player that made a play on Friday in Grand Rapids that kind of made me go like, whoa, where's this pen? Um, Noel Gundler. And he he stole the fuck out of blue at the blue line, skates into the slot, and and snipes uh a little blocker shot on Sebastian Cosa. And I'm like, I'm like, where's this pen, man? I feel like I've been waiting years for like this kind of play from him. And I'm I mean, I would love to see that happen more regularly with this guy again. I feel like it's been I remember when he was a youngster on the on the Calder Cup winning team, and I'm like, I can't wait to see what we're seeing from him. And it's just it's never really quite materialized for him. I don't know if Friday is a blip on the radar or if it's gonna be a catalyst for something. If I'm going by precedent, it's probably just gonna be a blip on the radar, and we were not gonna hear this guy's name for another six games. But I'm I'm hoping that that kind of starts to, you know, like start to put it together. It's been how many years, man? Like, let's get you get a certain, especially in this league, there's a shelf life, and you gotta start making those plays with more consistency. And I I I genuinely hope he does. I'm not here to to to you know knock a guy down. I want to to see him raised up. So he's a guy that I'm I'm gonna kind of keep my eye on. Like, let's let's come on, Noel, let's see see more of that. Um, you know, the schedule that they got coming up here, it's uh I mean it's a bit of roller coaster, away home, away home. It's just kind of uh where they're gonna just the nature of the league. It's and it's it's it's gonna be no matter who your opponent is, whether it's Rockford, whether it's Texas, whether it's Milwaukee, where they're at in the standings, and because of what Grand Rapids has done to kind of sandwich everyone down in there, it's super tight to be, you know, from second down to seventh. So, you know, you it it doesn't really matter who your opponent is. Show up and keep bringing that effort that's had them stable in that in that two spot. So that way when it comes back around, you have that another home and home with Grand Rapids in a month, you're not bringing that effort from Saturday, you're bringing two efforts from Friday.

SPEAKER_00: 49:12

Friday. Yeah. Well, you know, you mentioned Noel Gundler. It's interesting. Uh, I've been thinking a lot about Noel Gundler lately as well. He was a second round pick by the Keynes, and he just has not he has not developed really at all. And I gotta think that uh if he doesn't start to show something, he will not be re-upped by the canes and will end up actually going back to uh Sweden. Um he's a guy that uh he you know at times he shows things, as you mentioned, Andrew, that you really think, wow, this guy could be a player. Uh and he did some of that in the you know prospect showcase. Uh he does that each year. He gets in the showcase and shows a couple things. You think, oh boy, here this is gonna be the year for Noel Gundler. Uh but uh he just can't seem to put it together. So I'm with you. I'd love to see if he could uh maybe start to show some of the promise that the Canes had for him when they drafted. So I in any case. Um as always, Andrew, it's been uh it's been great fun talking Chicago Wolves. Uh we'll look forward to getting together right after those grand rapid games uh coming up at the end of the month, and I'll get your uh get your temperature on how you think things are progressing with the wolves. Um for those of you who've been watching or listening, of course, Andrew and I are delighted you spent time with us to uh to listen to more about the wolves with Andrew and and what's happening on the farm these days. Uh if you have any questions or comments, please leave those in the comment section down below. If you like this episode, please press the like button. We always appreciate that. And of course, if you want to be alerted of future episodes of Storm Tracker, please press the subscribe and the bell buttons, and we'll make sure you're made aware just as soon as those are available. As always, Andrew and I, thank you again for joining us and look forward to getting together with you real soon right here.