Mike Benton with a special Overtime podcast on Apr. 22, the day the Seattle Kraken introduced Jason Botterill as new general manager while Ron Francis was announced as the team's new President of Hockey Operations. Mike is joined with an exclusive one-on-one with Botterill, along with more reaction from Everett Fitzhugh and Ian Furness.
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It's a show we didn't plan on, but we're doing
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(01:38):
for this overtime podcast. We're doing this because the Kraken
making a major move to begin the week which has
massive implications on their direction all the way into the
front office. First off, the Kraken moving on from head
coach Dan Biosma from the head coach position and one
day later confirming on Tuesday, Ron Francis has been named
(01:58):
the organization's new president of Hockey Operations. Replacing him in
the general manager's chair is Jason Botterol, previously assistant GM
of the Kraken going back to twenty twenty one. This
will be his second go round in the GM position
across the NHL, previously with the Buffalo Sabers for three seasons,
(02:18):
but also adding more to his resume, which includes three
Stanley cuppings of the Pittsburgh Penguins and their front office
going back to two thousand and eight and to the
AGM position back between twenty fifteen and twenty seventeen. On
the podcast today, will be checking in with Evere Fitzu
radio play by play voice of the Kraken. Additionally Krack
(02:41):
and Hockey Network TV host and Hurd on these airwaves
one to three pm ninety three three k jr. Our
own mayor ra Maple Valley Ian Farness. They'll be with
us in just a bit, but from the top we'll
be joined one on one with new Kraken General manager
Jason Botterol as we dive into the philosophy behind his
position and the direction here for the Kraken heading into
(03:01):
this summer and beyond. A lot to cover, and here's
a sample of it on Jason Bottlerell, Ron Francis, CEO,
Todd Leiwiki and owner Samantha Holloway spart to the media
on Tuesday at Crack and Community ice Plex.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I feel strongly that if we're asking Jason to step
into the GM chair and manage all those responsibilities that
he has to have final say in decisions. We will
have discussions. I will give them my opinion. I know
it won't be one hundred percent well in agreement all
the time, but we will have those discussions. But at
the end of the day, he will make the decision,
(03:37):
the final call in those regards. You know, there's there's
so much to do with the job from you know,
players and agents and managing your staff and stuff. And
this will free me up in some regards to do
other specialized things where I can work closely with our
young prospects, give them information maybe a little quicker as
(03:58):
to whether we think guys are going to make it
or not make it. It allows us to make decisions
on signing guys or trading guys, mentor some of our
young players get out on the road with our staff.
You know, there's there's there's more than enough work for
two of us today.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
We're going to be aggressive again and free agency from
that standpoint, you know, adding both Stevenson and Montor. You
saw the passion that Montor brought day and day out
and stuff. I think that was certainly an addition to
our a strong addition to our organization. And we're going
to continue to look to add those guys players of
that ILK to our to our group here and stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
For sure, we live in a world where lots of
people question things. I remember people questioning us starting this
whole thing and bringing hockey to Seattle. But I do
think we have a track record of being committed and
deeply committed to doing the right thing. The path of
least resistance for both these guys and the owner was
(04:50):
to do nothing on the coaching side, but they thought
we could do better. They thought that a move could
actually move us closer to winning faster. So the question's fair,
but there's a conviction at this table that we're doing
the right thing, even if it means making tough decisions.
Speaker 7 (05:08):
It takes time to build an organization, and now it's
been four years and I think what we would like
to be is a sustained playoff team, and I think
that's where we see that you can't one hundred percent
to find success that way. I think this organization is
obviously bigger than what we do on the ice, and
I'm very proud of what we've done here in this
in the community, CACI, at CPA, all the people that
(05:29):
work here one roof, We've done a tremendous amount of
work in the community that I'm really proud of. I
think that last step and the most important step, is
to get where we want to be on ice. So
it's to be a sustained playoff team and it's as
soon as possible.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
There is for improvement. I'm not going to say size.
I'm just going to say strength. We have to find
ways of doing a bare job in front of our
own net and finding and doing a bare job of
getting to the opposition net. Those are areas that we
just haven't got to. And I say strength just because
you look at a player like Jane Schwartz finds a
way to get there, and our top players from a
NetFront presence, so that's going to be there. And then
(06:03):
to me, there's still a development of skill across the
board that we have to do. Wherever we ended up
in the standings, we have to continue to improve and
add to our skill level in all areas. It's not
as if we're one player away right now from a
Stanley Cup Championship. We have to become a perennial playoff
team first and then find our way. But to me,
(06:24):
it's going to come from two fronts. It's the young
players pushing up into our organization wanting to be a
part of things. And the great thing that we're excited
about is not like one player that we're focused on
right now in Coachilla Valley, like I look at a
scenario where Robert Kron and his staff is done from
an amateur staff, from our draft picks. It's a wide
range of players. You certainly have the skill players that
(06:46):
a lot of people talk about. You saw this year
Yanni Newman making a step in. We have go a
yet focused down in Huschella Valley right now, but then
this year you look at a villaneu in junior or
Melanson this year bringing a physical element. Mouleguard came over
this year at the end of the season. He's going
to now play the World Championships for Denmark. So we
have a lot of different types of players coming up
(07:07):
in our organization that I'm not just sort of opinning
it on one player. But no, it's going to be
exciting from trying to find more skill at the NHL level,
like when we made a trade for Coco, but also
finding you know, the next level of younger players we
will leave roster opportunities open for competition from our young players,
because I think that's going to be a great chance
(07:27):
for us to really improve as a team.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
All Right, one of the men of the hour're here,
Jason Botterrell joining us now newly named executive vice president
and GM of the Celo Craken. First off, I for'm
we all welcome here to the position. Great to have
you as well. Take us through the last few days
Jason leading up to this and what kind of chance
does this mean for you once again in this kind
of position.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
It's certainly a big honor and stuff for sure. And
I've I've absolutely loved my time from day one with
the KRACK and helping build something with Ron here from scratch,
the excitement of the expansion draft, the energy just from
the fans, from game one in our building, obviously, the
playoff run, you know, and now now you're seeing the
(08:11):
young kids develop within our organization. It's extremely rewarding and
you know, a big part of what I've enjoyed it,
I've really enjoyed the staff. Ron didn't just bring his
friends into this equation like you brought in people from
so many different organizations. You look at our director of
pro scout and being from Anaheim. You know our assistant
(08:33):
GM from sort of Carolinea, Toronto. You know our director
player personnel was from Chicago. You know myself from a
sort of buffalo Pittsburgh. You get those ideas, you get
different sort of thought process what other organizations do. It's
a it's a really cool setting. So to be a
part of that for the last four plus years has
been really cool. And then to now be able to
step into the GM role, be here in Seattle or
(08:55):
on a day to day basis, working with the players,
work working with the coaching staff. Very excited.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I can't wait to get onto the young player component
of this as well, who could be coming in from
the outside because we have plenty of summer here to go.
But I'll go back to this. You won two Stanley
Cups as an AGM with the Penguins, a third previously
with the organization, and some people say they take a
little bit from all their previous stops. You worked in
Pittsburgh under names like Ray Shiro and Jim Brutherford. How
(09:25):
are they able to influence you?
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Well, that was the best part of what happened in Pittsburgh.
It was an emotional time, because we actually went through
so much in a ten year period. You had success,
you had then failures with firings of general manager and
then the coaches, and then the rebuild of young players
coming through the system is for the Cups in sixteen seventeen,
and you know, you're you're always looking for great mentorship
(09:49):
and that's what I got when I joined the Pittsburgh
Penguins organization Rayhiro Chuck Fletcher. Here, I was a young
thirty year old just start start in the industry, and
they had me a part of every discussion, every meeting.
You know, then Jim Rutherford comes in and you know,
it's just a different way of doing things, but he
gave me. He stayed so focused on what the team
(10:10):
need and what did at the National Hockey Glove, but
allowed me to pretty much run the organization outside of that.
So you know, to me, it was a great experience
for a young manager and stuff from that standpoint too.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
So not all situations are the same. Of course, there's
budgets teamed a team, there's core values, and they come
in all shapes and sizes in this league. How did
the Buffalo experience work best to your advantage as far
as how this job in this league works well.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
At the end of the day, it's look, I got
the opportunity to be a general manager. Everyone says they
can go through it until you're in that seat and
they feel the pressures and you feel the responsibility of
talking to other thirty one gms and you're dealing with
ownership and you know, dealing with a lot of different agents.
It's a challenge. And look, we didn't accomplish everything we
wanted to in Buffalo. I'm proud of some of the
(10:56):
players that we acquired and brought into that group there,
and you learn from experience. I learned from the experiences
that didn't go always the right way in Buffalo. I
learned from the experience when you win a Stanley Cup
in Pittsburgh. You take those experiences and move forward from
that standpoint. And that's where I feel that I'm better
prepared the second time around here as a general manager
and looking forward to you know what happens here in
the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You were in the room and at the table, of course,
when you had two solid first round picks come in
and then blossom now Manny Beniers and Shane Wright, Edward
Shaw is now in the American Hockey League, Berkeley Catton
might be coming soon. There's a solid foundation and a
solid roster put together, and that's the feel. Where do
you want to go this summer with addressing needs from
(11:38):
scoring to strength As far as what others have.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Talked about here, yeah, like I think our identity of
this team has to continue to be speed.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
That's when when when when you look at over our
first four years, whenever we've played extremely well, teams keep saying, wow,
there's just no time and space on the ice. And
it's not just from an offensive component. To me, you know,
we played better defense when we when we don't spend
time in our defense zone that we're tracking back hard
and creating that turnover in the neutral zone to then
reattack quicker and stuff and spend more time in the ozone.
(12:07):
So we have to continue to focus in on our speed,
but we do have to improve on our strength standpoint,
you know, And it's why we went out and got
a player like CaCO. I think just the dynamic of
our forward group really looked different when you brought in
Newman and Cocko to our to our top six. From
that standpoint, and just added the bigger body being able
to get to the net and create a little bit
(12:27):
more you know, opportunities from in front of the net
there and stuff for sure. And look, it's at the
end of the day, we will continue to go for
the big swings on different players and try to be
involved with bringing in star players. But until then, we'll
continue to incrementally try to look to improve our team
through different trades, and there's going to be a push
from young players within our organization. We're going to push
our players who are already in there in on our team,
(12:49):
whether it's a Shainewright or Maddy Beneir, for more of
a step for next year. And you look at a
guy even like tolevision Right this year he blossom more
from a PK standpoint, that development to me, that's what
we have to do from our national hockey players.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
What's fun example than how Ron can be an aid
for you in these kind of situations.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Well, there are so many different ways, but you just
look at the end of the day, he watches the
game and see he sees different things than I do
and stuff just from his pedigree and obviously his his
playing career and stuff for sure, too, but not only
what he sees, but just his background as a coach too.
That's a background that I've never had, and I think
now in this different role, he's going to be I
(13:29):
think obviously more open and more have more time to
interact with some of our players, some of our younger
players coming in, whether it's on face offs or just
Di's own positioning or how to what they see on
the power play. And I think that's something that he's
excited about and I think is really going to help
our organization moving forward.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Let's talk coach, shall we. We've done a lot of
it already here for the last couple hours. It seems
there will be someone new behind the bench you got
in to this early year. But what feedback have you
gathered top to bottom as far as what matters in
searching here for the ideal candidate.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Well, obviously it's going to a lot of different things
come into the equation for it. You certainly want someone
who's going to play your identity with the speed, who's
going to be a great communicator from that standpoint too,
and understand the importance of development within our system, like
we've talked about before here, Like that's where a big
opportunity for growth is with our younger players coming up
here and stuff here. But no, it's it's always, it's
(14:21):
always an exciting process of going and talking to these
people throughout the league and just what they think of
the Seattle crack and and how they can help the
Seattle crack. And it's you know, it's a situation where
you don't you're a little nervous about making an adjustment
of bringing a new coach in and stuff, but you're
also very excited about what that coach can bring and
the attributes they can do to so hopefully unlocking on
(14:42):
an opportunity here to for us to have more success
in the future.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
How far along have many of you come with understanding
and deciding with what matters more experience at this level
or an up and coming resume.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Look at you know, I think we will look at both,
and it's it's more a type of a fit for
an injuryal person whether than just having it. You look
at my track record and both in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, like,
sometimes we went in experience, sometimes we went with a
with a more experienced player coach and stuff in different roles.
So I think it's just about it a fit. Until
you get into that room and start talking to him
(15:15):
about things, it's tough to really predict exactly what type
of attributes you're truly looking for.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
What's the best piece of advice that someone ever gave
you about this job? Uh?
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Well, you know, look, we unfortunately we lost them all
too soon, losing Ratio a couple of weeks ago and
stuff here. But he was an amazing mentor, and to me,
I'll try to be you know, I'll try to honor
his history by just being a GM similar to him.
He was always prepared. He cared about his players, he
(15:48):
cared about his staff, and he was prepared for any
scenario for a team.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
And that was great.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
And then that's what I certainly learned from him. But
he also said too, you know, if you ever at
the end of the day, it's going to be a challenge,
and there's just you know, it's the best part of
your day, but it's also what you have to be
prepared for. You never know what it's going to happen
to your day.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
When you wake up.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
You can have your this is what your schedule is,
but you just never know what is going to happen.
Whether there's an injury, whether there's an issue with an agent,
whether there's you know, possible a trade that comes up.
So your ability to think quickly and to be prepared
for things is certainly very helpful and stuff. But to
predict what your day is going to be each day
as a GM, it's it's an unpredictable job.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Finally, you mentioned the word aggressive. Ye, when it comes
to this summer, what are you looking forward to most
when it comes to the potential pieces that you could
be adding here to give this team even more of
a bump.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Well, look to me, it's again what we just talked about.
You have to have different plans depending on what happened
in the market. Will we try to go for you know,
a top line player one hundred percent? Who wouldn't if
that cames on the market. But if it doesn't, then
we have to continue to build and we we love
the one two three punch right now, we have and
been near Stevenson and right hey improving each one of
them so we can have better matchups, that's for sure.
(17:03):
But you know, aggression, aggression of this is going to
be across our board where we understand there's a time
for young players. But we're pushing Jeff Tambalani and his
staff to chick get these players ready quicker than ahead
of ahead of time from that standfront, and we know
our players want to be part of it here. They
like that they play games up here. And now that
some of our players and CVC players come up here,
(17:24):
like a Yannie Newman, have success, it's great for Yanni's confidence,
but also for a lot of players down in Coachella Valley.
They see it like, Hey, if he's doing it, I
can do it. So getting that sort of internal competition
for spots, that's something we're certainly we're going to be
pushing a lot next ball.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Looking forward to the information and the insights, certainly, and
we look forward to more to come here. Jason, congratulations,
Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Once again, thank you very much, Mike.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We always rely on this man's insight, opinion and all
his glory. He joins us now for what could be
a revealing day in Crack and history. Play by play
voice severa fits you along the Emerald, Queen Casino, Crack
and Audio Network. On the day of the Crank Hat
announced Ron Francis, team President of Hockey Operations, Jason Botterrel
EVP and new GM as well, and introduced in front
(18:09):
of the entire Seattle public and media. Good to do
this once again.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Fits.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
It's been what maybe six days since we last saw
you here, but Dan Bilsma out, Ron Francis new position,
Jason botterrel elevated new position. What do we make out
all of this?
Speaker 8 (18:25):
Yeah, I mean, I will I will say that I
don't think any of us expected to be here.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Today.
Speaker 8 (18:31):
I mean, but I think number one first and foremost.
And you heard it echoed a little bit amongst the
das who was up there, Sam Holloway, Ron Francis, toddli Wicki,
and of course Jason. You see the commitment that the
ownership group in the management has to winning and wanting
to have success. Sam started out by saying, this is
a very difficult day. It was a very difficult decision.
(18:55):
But I think this is the growing pains of starting
a new organization. I mean, you're not even five years
in yet. And I also think that's an opportunity to
really set the tone moving forward. I mean, the message
was clear, like this organization wants to win. They don't
just want to win, they expect to win. And I
think for me, Ron Franz has said multiple times in
(19:19):
the past that you know, eventually he does want to
move into more of an oversight role, into more of
an over arching role, and maybe step away a little
bit from the day to day minutia of all of this.
Jason Bottrell, who is very very well respected around the NHL,
is a person that you know, has had his name
(19:39):
floated around and numerous openings in the past, and now
you have an opportunity for him to step into the
head chair here in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
So what I make of it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I make of this.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
I make of this as an opportunity for the crack
and to take that next step. And as you heard,
the expectations are high, the the desire to win, the
want to win is high. And this is that first
step in that process, or the next step in that process.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
There are two things I take away from that. Number One,
I lost count of how many times I heard the
word winning to open this press conference. Number Two, the
coaching situation. This is where we could go in different
directions here because it's an open search. But yet they
listed some different qualities of what would make the ideal
(20:27):
coach for this organization, and one thing that stuck out
to me was using the resources available to help make
everyone better. What do we learn about whether they're leading
maybe more toward youth or experience here as the main focus. Yeah,
that said to me, experience.
Speaker 8 (20:43):
And again, there are so many coaches that their names
are in the proverbial hat for this summer, right. I mean,
you look at the number of teams that just fired
their head coaches. I think I lost count seven eight
Now teams who are going to be in looking for
head coach. You've got a number of young up and
(21:04):
comers from the NCAA rings. You've got first time NHL
assistant coaches who were looking for their first kick at
a head coaching job.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You've got a couple of other.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
NHL coaches assistant wise, who were trying to find opportunities
behind the bench. But I think everything that I heard
tonight led me to believe that you're looking for an
experienced coach, one who knows the league, one who has
had some success, whether that be sustained you know, playoff appearances,
whether that be championships one, you know, number of years
(21:39):
in the league. So that's going to be I think
the biggest piece for me.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
This offseason.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
We've been talking so much about wanting to get the
top line center, about wanting to find more offense. You
heard a number of times today wanting to get back
to a speed game. The personnel on the ice. I mean,
in my opinion, that's the easy part, going out and
trying to sell the.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Right player to come to see how speed and strength.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Speed and strength also right, I mean to me, of
the two jobs, that's the easy part. The hard part
is going to be the right coach to motivate them
and what you need in that realm, in that role
to motivate the talent that you have on the ice. So,
I mean, there's so many names I can't even begin
to speculate and wrap my head around who potentially it
(22:26):
could be. But I will say this historically, and hopefully
I don't get in trouble for saying this historically. When
you see these type of moves made, typically there is
a name or a person already in mind. I'm not
saying there is, But I have to wonder how long
(22:47):
this coaching is getting in ducks and exactly you're getting
your ducks in a row. But I'm wondering out loud
if there is a name or names that have been
identified as potential candidate that you had to move quickly on.
And I'll use the Jim Montgomery example from this season.
He gets fired in Boston. Saint Louis waste very little
(23:09):
time in hiring Jim Montgomery and they win twenty of
their last twenty five games and are now in the playoffs. Again,
this is pure speculation on Everett Fitzhugh's part, but I'm
just I'm curious. As we've seen in the past with
these type of moves, there usually is someone in mind
that they would like to go after.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Roster construction, it's as strong as it's ever been, I think,
in my opinion, and I think if you remove Francis
here from this, I mean again, you're setting yourself back
five years. But again, remember what's the ultimate goal, get
wins now and who knows when the NBA is coming.
This is becoming a more competitive sports town for dollars.
The crack and arm being oblivious here to this obviously,
(23:49):
and now that what you get in Jason Botterrell taken
over the GM reinsass is around the league. He's a
very well respected individual who can take the wheel with
player personnel. And I think now what you have in
that Ron is the culture and overall logistics guy and
BOTTERL can use his skills to is advantage with talent acquisition.
Speaker 8 (24:07):
Yes again, and I mean we've seen it before. You know,
Jason is just as involved in roster construction, in drafting,
in player development. You heard him talk about his role
as assistant GM with the Kraken is to go out
and identify a talent, whether that be at the amateur
level or the pro level. Right, So he's actively watching games.
You know, he's I know he's based out of Michigan,
(24:29):
so he's got two NCAA schools. He's got the MTDP
and the Detroit Red Wings all within a half an
hour forty minute drive of his house. So he's got
a lot of opportunities to see a lot of prospects
and a lot of potential acquisitions for Seattle. But I
also think that you're right. This allows Ron to take
that bigger picture look and to work on a bit
(24:50):
more with the business side, more with the overall hockey
op side. And you heard what he said, We're going
to discuss things. We're going I'm still going to be involved,
But at the end of the day, this is jason ship,
and he's gonna steer it, he's gonna drive it, and
and all decisions made will be strictly because he feels
it's the right move and not anything that I say
(25:12):
that I make him do. So you know, he's got
that full autonomy to do that, and I think that's
important to have.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
But you're right.
Speaker 8 (25:19):
I think now Jason can focus on building the team
in the way that he wants to build it and
and bring in the pieces that over the last now
what four years with the organization he's identified as areas
of opportunity, and now he can go strengthen those.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Do we see any change finally coming with how they
attack the free agent market or the trade market. I
don't think so.
Speaker 8 (25:38):
I mean, I think at the end of the day,
you know, when you hire from within, the issues are known,
and the issues have been known. It's not like you're
bringing out you're bringing in somebody new who doesn't know
the ins and out of the crack and who doesn't
know where the potholes are, where the land mines are.
Jason knows where all of those are.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
So love hearing the word of rest exactly.
Speaker 8 (26:01):
And listen, you have to be and and how many
times have we heard draft capital ten picks in the
first two rounds of the next three drafts. You've got
thirty seven signed players within your farm system, within your organization.
Who who are ready?
Speaker 7 (26:17):
You know?
Speaker 8 (26:18):
Who knows you've got your current roster players. You know
you talk about aggressive. It wouldn't surprise me to see
some jaw dropping moves this summer. And listen, if you
want to move the needle, you want to put the city,
you want to put the fans, you want to put
the league, the team on notice. I mean, you're you're
going to have to get aggressive. And I think you
know this is again from from what we've seen, this
(26:41):
potentially could be just the first major move, the first
major moment of a lot of major moments. You've got
to hire a brand new coach. You have to you know,
you've already announced that Jess Campbell is going to be retained,
but now you know, are the other two assistants going
to stay with Lowry along with Bob Wood? You know,
those now have to be evaluated. The rest of your
(27:02):
staff is going to be evaluated. What responsibility and what
role will the new coach? Have you know what players
are going to be signed or traded or drafted? What
do you do? All of these things go into it.
So I would expect you and I to have the
group chat blowing up with a number with a lot
more expletives as they did yesterday when this all came down.
(27:24):
But I mean, this is going to be We said
it last year, but I think you know more so
this year. This is in the short now, going into
year five of Cracking history. This is going to be
the biggest, most important offseason that we've seen so far.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Ever it fits you. We know that your no trade
clause is still intact.
Speaker 8 (27:40):
Right, I hope, so I listen as far as I'm concerned.
I know I signed a lifetime contract in my mind,
so that means they can't move on from me. But
if you know something I don't, please let me know.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
I will cry if you have set one foot out
of the building your things, You and me both brothers.
Get into the end of the day on this because
smoke is coming out of the m's ears from doing
one to three as usual. Ian Fernesh joining us here
on the Emergency podcast. Well, I asked this question to
fits earlier. U, let's just break this all down. Dan
(28:13):
Bilsma is moving on, Ron Francis new position. Jason Botterol
moved up to the GM position. What do we make
out of all of this? From day one?
Speaker 2 (28:22):
This year wasn't good enough. It's probably the simple way
to put it, Mike. I mean, they just it wasn't
good enough. Because the season wasn't good enough and because
the you know, the results weren't there, they made change.
Is now, you know, there's there's two things to talk about.
One would be the change with management upper management. The
other one would be the coaching change. The coaching change
was simple. I think most people believe this team was
(28:43):
better than it showed on the ice. Some guys regressed,
and all those things led to to Dan Bilsma being
dismissed after one year. And you know, I'll still say
it again, I applaud the organization. They made a tough decision.
For those who think it's a long term plan that's
(29:04):
still two or three years away from trying to get
to the playoffs, well, they wouldn't have fired the coach
if that was the case. They expect to be in
the postseason next year, so they made a move to
try to get back there, and I think that's you know,
it's brutal for Dan, but it's better for the organization
if that's what they felt they had to do. And
you know, the other move is was in the making
for a while. I think Ron and Jason have both
talked about that, and it gives Ron a chance to
(29:26):
do something different and different set of eyes and player evaluations,
player development, things like that, scouting, which is really what
he likes to do. And you know, for Jason, an
opportunity to run the team and make some decisions and
a fresh start there too. So I mean, I think
it's a win all the way around. I know there's
optics that people don't like, but I think it's a
good day all the way around for the organization.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
We just talked with Jason Botterrell moments ago here and
he used the word aggressive today when it came to
the roster building component. Now, how aggressive we're talking about
where all this goes. That remains here to be seen
because have to give might think to younger players who
might be on the rise. But I think one thing
that we've learned, he's not afraid to pull the trigger
(30:08):
and get creative, and I think from there that's one
component which will help you usher in a new era
with taking this roster here to the next level.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a busy off
it has to be a busy offseason, has to be
an off season filled with filled with changes to upgrade
the lineup. And I think they can do that. I
don't think there's any doubt about that. But it is
challenging because a lot of teams have calorie salary cap space,
a lot of teams have draft picks if you want
(30:37):
to do offer sheets and things like that. So there
are some challenges along the way. But you know, these
these guys have never stood stood pad, They've never been complacent,
And you know, I truly believe, and you know, maybe
I'll look like the dummy more often than not, but
more so in a little while, like nine months from now,
ten months from now. But I like what they have
(30:58):
in the terms of the core here. You know, I
Mattie's got to get better, no doubt about it. But
Shane really took a big step forward.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
He wasn't afraid to mention Banier's right and Stevenson in
this conversation in this room minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
You know, do you have a number one center?
Speaker 8 (31:12):
There?
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Probably have three number twos, So can you live with that? Maybe?
I mean Berkeley Caton maybe a number one, but not
for a few years. And he's probably gonna start playing
on the wing when he first gets up here next year.
So but they need they need to upgrade scoring. It
was weird that the defense took a step back this
(31:34):
season in terms of goals allowed, but I think that
came at the expensive offense or vice versa. I think
guys like done and certainly Montur felt like they really
had to press it offensively because that's what they're missing.
I mean, you know, yeah, goals four were up, that's great,
But why well, because the defense was still good in
terms of putting the puck in the net. You know,
(31:54):
among the the second or third in the league in
terms of defensive course scoring. So you're gonna take a
little Rod Peter to pay Paul there. But I still
like that that group of if you want to including
a hero who's a free agent. But I like that
group of six a lot. You know, is otto any
going to be up here? Maybe we'll see. So I
like that group and you know, you've got some decisions
(32:15):
to make in terms of your own free agents. But
with a Cymont probably being the top of the list,
Copple is going to get resigned, no doubt about that. Yeah,
Riker will get resigned. But yeah, they they've they've got
a good core. They just have to add to that.
And I think it's going to probably be easier to
add via trades than it is going to be for
via free agency.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
So when we get back to this here in a bit,
I want to first touch on the coaching situation. And
you know, I think we learned that Jason Botterrel still
considers this more of an open candidacy thing, and there's
not much of a preference here between an up and
coming resume to somebody with experience. Everett told us here
his meter learned leans more toward experience. But I think
(32:55):
to you initially here from the get go, what matters
more for this new.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Position, Well, I think the first thing in the first
place to start is I believe them when they say
that there isn't a guy that they have ready to go,
and that's why they got rid of Dan Bylsma, and
they're gonna make this hiring you know Liwiki did that
once before, got rid of Jim Moore when he was
the president of the Seahawks because they had Pete Carroll
and the wings ready to go. I don't think that
(33:23):
they have a Pete Carroll waiting in the wings this time.
I believe when they say that they're going to go
through the process, and there.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Might be a few out there, but they currently have
jobs also, and they're very well entrenched in those.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Jobs, right, or they're guys that are still under contract,
Like if they got fired and they are still under contract,
get permission. But I don't I don't think they have
one guy in mind. I think that when they say
they've already got kind of a list, Ron Francis told
me on the radio they got a list put that's
already put together of certain guys. But I think it's
be wide open. It's a massively important higher though, Mike, like,
you can't get this one wrong. Just can't get it wrong.
(33:54):
And I don't think they will. I think they'll do
the due diligence, get back to the game they want
to play. Yeah, I don't know if experience is necessary.
I asked Francis that he didn't say didn't say it
was necessary, but in the NHL it I should say.
So it's fun process, be fun to see somebody come in.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
What about to you in the experience game, the difference
that it makes between someone who's experienced at the pro
level than say, versus somebody who's experienced at the college.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Level, Well, I mean there's a couple of hammer college
coaches out there that are being named obviously, So I
don't know, you know, I I don't know. The transition
is probably easier now than it used to be because
the games aren't as different as they used to be. Like,
you know, the NHL is a little closer to the
college game. But you know the part that it is hard,
(34:42):
And this goes to what the biggest struggle is with
this team. This season's schedule. I mean, colleges play a
light schedule, a couple of games on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
And it's gonna get harder next year too.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
For the NHL, it is. Yes, I've always thought guys
that coached in juniors, even though the players are younger,
could sometimes make the transition easier to the pros now,
not always successfully, obviously, but just because the schedule's similar
the college schedule is so different. You know, you're used
as a college coach to having four practices a week.
(35:13):
You don't get that luxury in the NHL. What do
they I mean help Coppocaco went like, how long three weeks?
Four weeks before he had a practice with the team
after you get traded here. So yeah, I think it's
but whether it's a college coach or an experienced NHL coach,
I think they'll make the right decision. But like I said,
they have to make the right decisions. They can't make
this one. Can't be wrong.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Again, what's sut this move off here to you? I
mean we could look at the coach change. Yeah, we
can look at defense. We could look at the oh
to twelves and back to backs here. You know, we'll
never know what was said in the exsit meetings, obviously,
but I think for me it always goes back to
defense because again I think you mentioned this and we
heard this from from another colleague, you know who was
(35:51):
on our post game shot earlier. And you can't rob
Peter to pay Paul. There was an up ticket offense here,
but the defense like also a step back, and Ron
Francis wasn't afraid to point out that structure was also
a big issue.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
In structure, they mentioned the word structure a million times.
I think that was it. You know, Ron said on
the radio to me today, and we talked a little
bit off there too, And then I'm not sharing trade
secret because he said the same thing on the air
as he did off the air. It was just you
watched the team too many times and thought they just
aren't as structured defensively as they needed to be. They
weren't as good in their own end. The tension to
(36:24):
detail wasn't there. And I mean with Ron France is
a Hall of Famer, and if he's looking down there
saying that this isn't good enough and his eyes are
telling him that it's not good enough and here's why,
then the change had to be made. So that was it. Yeah,
The oh and twelve jumps off the page. I know
they missed the playoffs by twenty points, and you say, well,
if they went five hundred in those games, so like
say they go, you know, six and six, so there's
(36:45):
twelve points for eight out. But it's a different feeling
eight out because you're probably in it till the end.
They weren't they were out of it by December, right,
and so you know trade deadline, for sure, they were
out of it. That was a part of it. I mean,
Groobou killed him this year, like let's not be let's
not pull any punches. He killed him, he was. He
gave him seventeen out of a possible fifty four points
(37:06):
in his starts, Like, I mean, that's you just can't
be that one.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
That's also a big roster question too, is what do
they do with gold done here?
Speaker 6 (37:17):
Well?
Speaker 2 (37:17):
And so look at those points and then you ask yourself,
like when Joey started kind of tailing off at the end, why,
I mean it's you felt like you couldn't play. You
had to play Joey probably more than you wanted to,
you know, I think. And Joey keeps himself, you know,
better than anybody in terms of shape and his conditioning
and all that stuff. But I mean I think he
wore down a little bit too. But new coach, new voice,
(37:41):
totally new voice, because Bilesman wasn't really a new voice,
being a Coachella Vale for a couple of years and
before that in Charlotte, right, So so it wasn't a
completely new voice. This will be a new voice and
a new knew everything when he comes in, whoever the person.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Is, would it be the least surprising to you to
see big roster moves made this summer by treyd by
offer sheet or by the free agent market least surprising,
least surprising?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
I think they, I mean the least survive trade probably.
I think it's free agency. There's just there's just not
anybody that's I mean Marner obviously.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
He's a big fish, But the question is does he
want to Lers Heelers.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Eelers is a guy too that comes into play, but
he's hurt a lot, and he's.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
And if you want Eelers or Brockbester, they have to
be a package deal. Maybe if you want, say the
value of like a brand new forty goal guy.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Right, you know nys is this offer sheet guy? But
the free I mean, actually, the hard thing is is
most of the top free agents are setters, Like almost
all of them are center Iceman.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Well you're good, then what do you do with Beniers?
Are right? Or Stevenson? I don't think they're being moved
anytime soon?
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Well, yeah, Stevens's contract says no rights, no and Maddie's
kind of a cornerstone for the franchise. No, so you're
gonna have to try to find wingers, probably via trade.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Well, we're done. Finally we can go home, now, can we?
But yeah, I think so we can finally empty the tank.
I and you've done enough far to work. I always
appreciate you. We'll also be talking a lot more. I
know that you may need to fill in sometimes here
for your radio show. I'm always here.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Oh good, here.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I might ask you to come in tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
You're gonna be jetting out already. He's jumping into it.
I'm out of here already. All right, Well, mayor appreciate
you anytime, my tea.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
There you have it, big.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Thank you once again to new Kraken general manager Jason
botterrel ever it fits you, Ian Farness. As well. As
we are preparing for not exactly a low event summer,
the word aggressive use as far as how the kra
can want to build and sustain their roster coming this
offseason and plenty of options ahead right now, as far
as who could be filling the head coach position for
(39:46):
the twenty twenty five and twenty six season.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
No matter what happens.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
We've got you covered right here for the Krank and
Audio Network via the iHeartRadio app. Additionally, daytime programming in
ninety three three KJRFM has got you covered as well
in for Nees one to three, in addition to our
good friends Shocking Buck in the morning six to ten am,
MJ in the midday with Mark James ten to one,
Ian from one to three, and Dave Softy Maler and
(40:11):
Dig Faine taking it away three to seven pm weekdays
as well. Stay tuned right here via the iHeartRadio app.
By the way, you can also find Kjar at Twitter
and x at ninety three three Kjar on Instagram and TikTok,
as well as welcome back with you for each summer
development bay. Thanks again to Cracking GM, Jason Botterolz and
(40:32):
Everett Fits, you, Ian Fornes for joining us and for
overtime I Mike Beton, and thanks for pushing play.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
You're home for the Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point
three kjr FM
Featuring the great stories, personalities, conversation and news in the
hockey world. Back to Beniars walks in Left Circle sets.
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The classic gay Chass shut Out to part.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's the Overtime Podcast, a presentation of the Krack and
Audio Network and Sports Radio ninety three point three kJ
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You're listening to Overtime.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Here's Mike Bett.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
It's a show we didn't plan on, but we're doing
this anytime breaking news happens. I mean, welcome you once
again and thank you for dialing us up for the
Overtime Podcast. Mike Benton with you. This, of course, is
a presentation of the Emerald Queen, Casino, Crack and Audio Network,
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(01:01):
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Once again, the iHeartRadio app the place to go. Well
(01:38):
for this overtime podcast. We're doing this because the Kraken
making a major move to begin the week which has
massive implications on their direction all the way into the
front office. First off, the Kraken moving on from head
coach Dan Biosma from the head coach position and one
day later confirming on Tuesday, Ron Francis has been named
(01:58):
the organization's new president of Hockey Operations. Replacing him in
the general manager's chair is Jason Botterol, previously assistant GM
of the Kraken going back to twenty twenty one. This
will be his second go round in the GM position
across the NHL, previously with the Buffalo Sabers for three seasons,
(02:18):
but also adding more to his resume, which includes three
Stanley cuppings of the Pittsburgh Penguins and their front office
going back to two thousand and eight and to the
AGM position back between twenty fifteen and twenty seventeen. On
the podcast today, will be checking in with Evere Fitzu
radio play by play voice of the Kraken. Additionally Krack
(02:41):
and Hockey Network TV host and Hurd on these airwaves
one to three pm ninety three three k jr. Our
own mayor ra Maple Valley Ian Farness. They'll be with
us in just a bit, but from the top we'll
be joined one on one with new Kraken General manager
Jason Botterol as we dive into the philosophy behind his
position and the direction here for the Kraken heading into
(03:01):
this summer and beyond. A lot to cover, and here's
a sample of it on Jason Bottlerell, Ron Francis, CEO,
Todd Leiwiki and owner Samantha Holloway spart to the media
on Tuesday at Crack and Community ice Plex.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I feel strongly that if we're asking Jason to step
into the GM chair and manage all those responsibilities that
he has to have final say in decisions. We will
have discussions. I will give them my opinion. I know
it won't be one hundred percent well in agreement all
the time, but we will have those discussions. But at
the end of the day, he will make the decision,
(03:37):
the final call in those regards. You know, there's there's
so much to do with the job from you know,
players and agents and managing your staff and stuff. And
this will free me up in some regards to do
other specialized things where I can work closely with our
young prospects, give them information maybe a little quicker as
(03:58):
to whether we think guys are going to make it
or not make it. It allows us to make decisions
on signing guys or trading guys, mentor some of our
young players get out on the road with our staff.
You know, there's there's there's more than enough work for
two of us today.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
We're going to be aggressive again and free agency from
that standpoint, you know, adding both Stevenson and Montor. You
saw the passion that Montor brought day and day out
and stuff. I think that was certainly an addition to
our a strong addition to our organization. And we're going
to continue to look to add those guys players of
that ILK to our to our group here and stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
For sure, we live in a world where lots of
people question things. I remember people questioning us starting this
whole thing and bringing hockey to Seattle. But I do
think we have a track record of being committed and
deeply committed to doing the right thing. The path of
least resistance for both these guys and the owner was
(04:50):
to do nothing on the coaching side, but they thought
we could do better. They thought that a move could
actually move us closer to winning faster. So the question's fair,
but there's a conviction at this table that we're doing
the right thing, even if it means making tough decisions.
Speaker 7 (05:08):
It takes time to build an organization, and now it's
been four years and I think what we would like
to be is a sustained playoff team, and I think
that's where we see that you can't one hundred percent
to find success that way. I think this organization is
obviously bigger than what we do on the ice, and
I'm very proud of what we've done here in this
in the community, CACI, at CPA, all the people that
(05:29):
work here one roof, We've done a tremendous amount of
work in the community that I'm really proud of. I
think that last step and the most important step, is
to get where we want to be on ice. So
it's to be a sustained playoff team and it's as
soon as possible.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
There is for improvement. I'm not going to say size.
I'm just going to say strength. We have to find
ways of doing a bare job in front of our
own net and finding and doing a bare job of
getting to the opposition net. Those are areas that we
just haven't got to. And I say strength just because
you look at a player like Jane Schwartz finds a
way to get there, and our top players from a
NetFront presence, so that's going to be there. And then
(06:03):
to me, there's still a development of skill across the
board that we have to do. Wherever we ended up
in the standings, we have to continue to improve and
add to our skill level in all areas. It's not
as if we're one player away right now from a
Stanley Cup Championship. We have to become a perennial playoff
team first and then find our way. But to me,
(06:24):
it's going to come from two fronts. It's the young
players pushing up into our organization wanting to be a
part of things. And the great thing that we're excited
about is not like one player that we're focused on
right now in Coachilla Valley, like I look at a
scenario where Robert Kron and his staff is done from
an amateur staff, from our draft picks. It's a wide
range of players. You certainly have the skill players that
(06:46):
a lot of people talk about. You saw this year
Yanni Newman making a step in. We have go a
yet focused down in Huschella Valley right now, but then
this year you look at a villaneu in junior or
Melanson this year bringing a physical element. Mouleguard came over
this year at the end of the season. He's going
to now play the World Championships for Denmark. So we
have a lot of different types of players coming up
(07:07):
in our organization that I'm not just sort of opinning
it on one player. But no, it's going to be
exciting from trying to find more skill at the NHL level,
like when we made a trade for Coco, but also
finding you know, the next level of younger players we
will leave roster opportunities open for competition from our young players,
because I think that's going to be a great chance
(07:27):
for us to really improve as a team.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
All Right, one of the men of the hour're here,
Jason Botterrell joining us now newly named executive vice president
and GM of the Celo Craken. First off, I for'm
we all welcome here to the position. Great to have
you as well. Take us through the last few days
Jason leading up to this and what kind of chance
does this mean for you once again in this kind
of position.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
It's certainly a big honor and stuff for sure. And
I've I've absolutely loved my time from day one with
the KRACK and helping build something with Ron here from scratch,
the excitement of the expansion draft, the energy just from
the fans, from game one in our building, obviously, the
playoff run, you know, and now now you're seeing the
(08:11):
young kids develop within our organization. It's extremely rewarding and
you know, a big part of what I've enjoyed it,
I've really enjoyed the staff. Ron didn't just bring his
friends into this equation like you brought in people from
so many different organizations. You look at our director of
pro scout and being from Anaheim. You know our assistant
(08:33):
GM from sort of Carolinea, Toronto. You know our director
player personnel was from Chicago. You know myself from a
sort of buffalo Pittsburgh. You get those ideas, you get
different sort of thought process what other organizations do. It's
a it's a really cool setting. So to be a
part of that for the last four plus years has
been really cool. And then to now be able to
step into the GM role, be here in Seattle or
(08:55):
on a day to day basis, working with the players,
work working with the coaching staff. Very excited.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
I can't wait to get onto the young player component
of this as well, who could be coming in from
the outside because we have plenty of summer here to go.
But I'll go back to this. You won two Stanley
Cups as an AGM with the Penguins, a third previously
with the organization, and some people say they take a
little bit from all their previous stops. You worked in
Pittsburgh under names like Ray Shiro and Jim Brutherford. How
(09:25):
are they able to influence you?
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Well, that was the best part of what happened in Pittsburgh.
It was an emotional time, because we actually went through
so much in a ten year period. You had success,
you had then failures with firings of general manager and
then the coaches, and then the rebuild of young players
coming through the system is for the Cups in sixteen seventeen,
and you know, you're you're always looking for great mentorship
(09:49):
and that's what I got when I joined the Pittsburgh
Penguins organization Rayhiro Chuck Fletcher. Here, I was a young
thirty year old just start start in the industry, and
they had me a part of every discussion, every meeting.
You know, then Jim Rutherford comes in and you know,
it's just a different way of doing things, but he
gave me. He stayed so focused on what the team
(10:10):
need and what did at the National Hockey Glove, but
allowed me to pretty much run the organization outside of that.
So you know, to me, it was a great experience
for a young manager and stuff from that standpoint too.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
So not all situations are the same. Of course, there's
budgets teamed a team, there's core values, and they come
in all shapes and sizes in this league. How did
the Buffalo experience work best to your advantage as far
as how this job in this league works well.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
At the end of the day, it's look, I got
the opportunity to be a general manager. Everyone says they
can go through it until you're in that seat and
they feel the pressures and you feel the responsibility of
talking to other thirty one gms and you're dealing with
ownership and you know, dealing with a lot of different agents.
It's a challenge. And look, we didn't accomplish everything we
wanted to in Buffalo. I'm proud of some of the
(10:56):
players that we acquired and brought into that group there,
and you learn from experience. I learned from the experiences
that didn't go always the right way in Buffalo. I
learned from the experience when you win a Stanley Cup
in Pittsburgh. You take those experiences and move forward from
that standpoint. And that's where I feel that I'm better
prepared the second time around here as a general manager
and looking forward to you know what happens here in
the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You were in the room and at the table, of course,
when you had two solid first round picks come in
and then blossom now Manny Beniers and Shane Wright, Edward
Shaw is now in the American Hockey League, Berkeley Catton
might be coming soon. There's a solid foundation and a
solid roster put together, and that's the feel. Where do
you want to go this summer with addressing needs from
(11:38):
scoring to strength As far as what others have.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Talked about here, yeah, like I think our identity of
this team has to continue to be speed.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
That's when when when when you look at over our
first four years, whenever we've played extremely well, teams keep saying, wow,
there's just no time and space on the ice. And
it's not just from an offensive component. To me, you know,
we played better defense when we when we don't spend
time in our defense zone that we're tracking back hard
and creating that turnover in the neutral zone to then
reattack quicker and stuff and spend more time in the ozone.
(12:07):
So we have to continue to focus in on our speed,
but we do have to improve on our strength standpoint,
you know, And it's why we went out and got
a player like CaCO. I think just the dynamic of
our forward group really looked different when you brought in
Newman and Cocko to our to our top six. From
that standpoint, and just added the bigger body being able
to get to the net and create a little bit
(12:27):
more you know, opportunities from in front of the net
there and stuff for sure. And look, it's at the
end of the day, we will continue to go for
the big swings on different players and try to be
involved with bringing in star players. But until then, we'll
continue to incrementally try to look to improve our team
through different trades, and there's going to be a push
from young players within our organization. We're going to push
our players who are already in there in on our team,
(12:49):
whether it's a Shainewright or Maddy Beneir, for more of
a step for next year. And you look at a
guy even like tolevision Right this year he blossom more
from a PK standpoint, that development to me, that's what
we have to do from our national hockey players.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
What's fun example than how Ron can be an aid
for you in these kind of situations.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Well, there are so many different ways, but you just
look at the end of the day, he watches the
game and see he sees different things than I do
and stuff just from his pedigree and obviously his his
playing career and stuff for sure, too, but not only
what he sees, but just his background as a coach too.
That's a background that I've never had, and I think
now in this different role, he's going to be I
(13:29):
think obviously more open and more have more time to
interact with some of our players, some of our younger
players coming in, whether it's on face offs or just
Di's own positioning or how to what they see on
the power play. And I think that's something that he's
excited about and I think is really going to help
our organization moving forward.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Let's talk coach, shall we. We've done a lot of
it already here for the last couple hours. It seems
there will be someone new behind the bench you got
in to this early year. But what feedback have you
gathered top to bottom as far as what matters in
searching here for the ideal candidate.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Well, obviously it's going to a lot of different things
come into the equation for it. You certainly want someone
who's going to play your identity with the speed, who's
going to be a great communicator from that standpoint too,
and understand the importance of development within our system, like
we've talked about before here, Like that's where a big
opportunity for growth is with our younger players coming up
here and stuff here. But no, it's it's always, it's
(14:21):
always an exciting process of going and talking to these
people throughout the league and just what they think of
the Seattle crack and and how they can help the
Seattle crack. And it's you know, it's a situation where
you don't you're a little nervous about making an adjustment
of bringing a new coach in and stuff, but you're
also very excited about what that coach can bring and
the attributes they can do to so hopefully unlocking on
(14:42):
an opportunity here to for us to have more success
in the future.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
How far along have many of you come with understanding
and deciding with what matters more experience at this level
or an up and coming resume.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Look at you know, I think we will look at both,
and it's it's more a type of a fit for
an injuryal person whether than just having it. You look
at my track record and both in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, like,
sometimes we went in experience, sometimes we went with a
with a more experienced player coach and stuff in different roles.
So I think it's just about it a fit. Until
you get into that room and start talking to him
(15:15):
about things, it's tough to really predict exactly what type
of attributes you're truly looking for.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
What's the best piece of advice that someone ever gave
you about this job? Uh?
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Well, you know, look, we unfortunately we lost them all
too soon, losing Ratio a couple of weeks ago and
stuff here. But he was an amazing mentor, and to me,
I'll try to be you know, I'll try to honor
his history by just being a GM similar to him.
He was always prepared. He cared about his players, he
(15:48):
cared about his staff, and he was prepared for any
scenario for a team.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
And that was great.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
And then that's what I certainly learned from him. But
he also said too, you know, if you ever at
the end of the day, it's going to be a challenge,
and there's just you know, it's the best part of
your day, but it's also what you have to be
prepared for. You never know what it's going to happen
to your day.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
When you wake up.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
You can have your this is what your schedule is,
but you just never know what is going to happen.
Whether there's an injury, whether there's an issue with an agent,
whether there's you know, possible a trade that comes up.
So your ability to think quickly and to be prepared
for things is certainly very helpful and stuff. But to
predict what your day is going to be each day
as a GM, it's it's an unpredictable job.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Finally, you mentioned the word aggressive. Ye, when it comes
to this summer, what are you looking forward to most
when it comes to the potential pieces that you could
be adding here to give this team even more of
a bump.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Well, look to me, it's again what we just talked about.
You have to have different plans depending on what happened
in the market. Will we try to go for you know,
a top line player one hundred percent? Who wouldn't if
that cames on the market. But if it doesn't, then
we have to continue to build and we we love
the one two three punch right now, we have and
been near Stevenson and right hey improving each one of
them so we can have better matchups, that's for sure.
(17:03):
But you know, aggression, aggression of this is going to
be across our board where we understand there's a time
for young players. But we're pushing Jeff Tambalani and his
staff to chick get these players ready quicker than ahead
of ahead of time from that standfront, and we know
our players want to be part of it here. They
like that they play games up here. And now that
some of our players and CVC players come up here,
(17:24):
like a Yannie Newman, have success, it's great for Yanni's confidence,
but also for a lot of players down in Coachella Valley.
They see it like, Hey, if he's doing it, I
can do it. So getting that sort of internal competition
for spots, that's something we're certainly we're going to be
pushing a lot next ball.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Looking forward to the information and the insights, certainly, and
we look forward to more to come here. Jason, congratulations,
Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Once again, thank you very much, Mike.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We always rely on this man's insight, opinion and all
his glory. He joins us now for what could be
a revealing day in Crack and history. Play by play
voice severa fits you along the Emerald, Queen Casino, Crack
and Audio Network. On the day of the Crank Hat
announced Ron Francis, team President of Hockey Operations, Jason Botterrel
EVP and new GM as well, and introduced in front
(18:09):
of the entire Seattle public and media. Good to do
this once again.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Fits.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
It's been what maybe six days since we last saw
you here, but Dan Bilsma out, Ron Francis new position,
Jason botterrel elevated new position. What do we make out
all of this?
Speaker 8 (18:25):
Yeah, I mean, I will I will say that I
don't think any of us expected to be here.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Today.
Speaker 8 (18:31):
I mean, but I think number one first and foremost.
And you heard it echoed a little bit amongst the
das who was up there, Sam Holloway, Ron Francis, toddli Wicki,
and of course Jason. You see the commitment that the
ownership group in the management has to winning and wanting
to have success. Sam started out by saying, this is
a very difficult day. It was a very difficult decision.
(18:55):
But I think this is the growing pains of starting
a new organization. I mean, you're not even five years
in yet. And I also think that's an opportunity to
really set the tone moving forward. I mean, the message
was clear, like this organization wants to win. They don't
just want to win, they expect to win. And I
think for me, Ron Franz has said multiple times in
(19:19):
the past that you know, eventually he does want to
move into more of an oversight role, into more of
an over arching role, and maybe step away a little
bit from the day to day minutia of all of this.
Jason Bottrell, who is very very well respected around the NHL,
is a person that you know, has had his name
(19:39):
floated around and numerous openings in the past, and now
you have an opportunity for him to step into the
head chair here in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
So what I make of it.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I make of this.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
I make of this as an opportunity for the crack
and to take that next step. And as you heard,
the expectations are high, the the desire to win, the
want to win is high. And this is that first
step in that process, or the next step in that process.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
There are two things I take away from that. Number One,
I lost count of how many times I heard the
word winning to open this press conference. Number Two, the
coaching situation. This is where we could go in different
directions here because it's an open search. But yet they
listed some different qualities of what would make the ideal
(20:27):
coach for this organization, and one thing that stuck out
to me was using the resources available to help make
everyone better. What do we learn about whether they're leading
maybe more toward youth or experience here as the main focus. Yeah,
that said to me, experience.
Speaker 8 (20:43):
And again, there are so many coaches that their names
are in the proverbial hat for this summer, right. I mean,
you look at the number of teams that just fired
their head coaches. I think I lost count seven eight
Now teams who are going to be in looking for
head coach. You've got a number of young up and
(21:04):
comers from the NCAA rings. You've got first time NHL
assistant coaches who were looking for their first kick at
a head coaching job.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You've got a couple of other.
Speaker 8 (21:13):
NHL coaches assistant wise, who were trying to find opportunities
behind the bench. But I think everything that I heard
tonight led me to believe that you're looking for an
experienced coach, one who knows the league, one who has
had some success, whether that be sustained you know, playoff appearances,
whether that be championships one, you know, number of years
(21:39):
in the league. So that's going to be I think
the biggest piece for me.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
This offseason.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
We've been talking so much about wanting to get the
top line center, about wanting to find more offense. You
heard a number of times today wanting to get back
to a speed game. The personnel on the ice. I mean,
in my opinion, that's the easy part, going out and
trying to sell the.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Right player to come to see how speed and strength.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Speed and strength also right, I mean to me, of
the two jobs, that's the easy part. The hard part
is going to be the right coach to motivate them
and what you need in that realm, in that role
to motivate the talent that you have on the ice. So,
I mean, there's so many names I can't even begin
to speculate and wrap my head around who potentially it
(22:26):
could be. But I will say this historically, and hopefully
I don't get in trouble for saying this historically. When
you see these type of moves made, typically there is
a name or a person already in mind. I'm not
saying there is, But I have to wonder how long
(22:47):
this coaching is getting in ducks and exactly you're getting
your ducks in a row. But I'm wondering out loud
if there is a name or names that have been
identified as potential candidate that you had to move quickly on.
And I'll use the Jim Montgomery example from this season.
He gets fired in Boston. Saint Louis waste very little
(23:09):
time in hiring Jim Montgomery and they win twenty of
their last twenty five games and are now in the playoffs. Again,
this is pure speculation on Everett Fitzhugh's part, but I'm
just I'm curious. As we've seen in the past with
these type of moves, there usually is someone in mind
that they would like to go after.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Roster construction, it's as strong as it's ever been, I think,
in my opinion, and I think if you remove Francis
here from this, I mean again, you're setting yourself back
five years. But again, remember what's the ultimate goal, get
wins now and who knows when the NBA is coming.
This is becoming a more competitive sports town for dollars.
The crack and arm being oblivious here to this obviously,
(23:49):
and now that what you get in Jason Botterrell taken
over the GM reinsass is around the league. He's a
very well respected individual who can take the wheel with
player personnel. And I think now what you have in
that Ron is the culture and overall logistics guy and
BOTTERL can use his skills to is advantage with talent acquisition.
Speaker 8 (24:07):
Yes again, and I mean we've seen it before. You know,
Jason is just as involved in roster construction, in drafting,
in player development. You heard him talk about his role
as assistant GM with the Kraken is to go out
and identify a talent, whether that be at the amateur
level or the pro level. Right, So he's actively watching games.
You know, he's I know he's based out of Michigan,
(24:29):
so he's got two NCAA schools. He's got the MTDP
and the Detroit Red Wings all within a half an
hour forty minute drive of his house. So he's got
a lot of opportunities to see a lot of prospects
and a lot of potential acquisitions for Seattle. But I
also think that you're right. This allows Ron to take
that bigger picture look and to work on a bit
(24:50):
more with the business side, more with the overall hockey
op side. And you heard what he said, We're going
to discuss things. We're going I'm still going to be involved,
But at the end of the day, this is jason ship,
and he's gonna steer it, he's gonna drive it, and
and all decisions made will be strictly because he feels
it's the right move and not anything that I say
(25:12):
that I make him do. So you know, he's got
that full autonomy to do that, and I think that's
important to have.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
But you're right.
Speaker 8 (25:19):
I think now Jason can focus on building the team
in the way that he wants to build it and
and bring in the pieces that over the last now
what four years with the organization he's identified as areas
of opportunity, and now he can go strengthen those.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Do we see any change finally coming with how they
attack the free agent market or the trade market. I
don't think so.
Speaker 8 (25:38):
I mean, I think at the end of the day,
you know, when you hire from within, the issues are known,
and the issues have been known. It's not like you're
bringing out you're bringing in somebody new who doesn't know
the ins and out of the crack and who doesn't
know where the potholes are, where the land mines are.
Jason knows where all of those are.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
So love hearing the word of rest exactly.
Speaker 8 (26:01):
And listen, you have to be and and how many
times have we heard draft capital ten picks in the
first two rounds of the next three drafts. You've got
thirty seven signed players within your farm system, within your organization.
Who who are ready?
Speaker 7 (26:17):
You know?
Speaker 8 (26:18):
Who knows you've got your current roster players. You know
you talk about aggressive. It wouldn't surprise me to see
some jaw dropping moves this summer. And listen, if you
want to move the needle, you want to put the city,
you want to put the fans, you want to put
the league, the team on notice. I mean, you're you're
going to have to get aggressive. And I think you
know this is again from from what we've seen, this
(26:41):
potentially could be just the first major move, the first
major moment of a lot of major moments. You've got
to hire a brand new coach. You have to you know,
you've already announced that Jess Campbell is going to be retained,
but now you know, are the other two assistants going
to stay with Lowry along with Bob Wood? You know,
those now have to be evaluated. The rest of your
(27:02):
staff is going to be evaluated. What responsibility and what
role will the new coach? Have you know what players
are going to be signed or traded or drafted? What
do you do? All of these things go into it.
So I would expect you and I to have the
group chat blowing up with a number with a lot
more expletives as they did yesterday when this all came down.
(27:24):
But I mean, this is going to be We said
it last year, but I think you know more so
this year. This is in the short now, going into
year five of Cracking history. This is going to be
the biggest, most important offseason that we've seen so far.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Ever it fits you. We know that your no trade
clause is still intact.
Speaker 8 (27:40):
Right, I hope, so I listen as far as I'm concerned.
I know I signed a lifetime contract in my mind,
so that means they can't move on from me. But
if you know something I don't, please let me know.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
I will cry if you have set one foot out
of the building your things, You and me both brothers.
Get into the end of the day on this because
smoke is coming out of the m's ears from doing
one to three as usual. Ian Fernesh joining us here
on the Emergency podcast. Well, I asked this question to
fits earlier. U, let's just break this all down. Dan
(28:13):
Bilsma is moving on, Ron Francis new position. Jason Botterol
moved up to the GM position. What do we make
out of all of this? From day one?
Speaker 2 (28:22):
This year wasn't good enough. It's probably the simple way
to put it, Mike. I mean, they just it wasn't
good enough. Because the season wasn't good enough and because
the you know, the results weren't there, they made change.
Is now, you know, there's there's two things to talk about.
One would be the change with management upper management. The
other one would be the coaching change. The coaching change
was simple. I think most people believe this team was
(28:43):
better than it showed on the ice. Some guys regressed,
and all those things led to to Dan Bilsma being
dismissed after one year. And you know, I'll still say
it again, I applaud the organization. They made a tough decision.
For those who think it's a long term plan that's
(29:04):
still two or three years away from trying to get
to the playoffs, well, they wouldn't have fired the coach
if that was the case. They expect to be in
the postseason next year, so they made a move to
try to get back there, and I think that's you know,
it's brutal for Dan, but it's better for the organization
if that's what they felt they had to do. And
you know, the other move is was in the making
for a while. I think Ron and Jason have both
talked about that, and it gives Ron a chance to
(29:26):
do something different and different set of eyes and player evaluations,
player development, things like that, scouting, which is really what
he likes to do. And you know, for Jason, an
opportunity to run the team and make some decisions and
a fresh start there too. So I mean, I think
it's a win all the way around. I know there's
optics that people don't like, but I think it's a
good day all the way around for the organization.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
We just talked with Jason Botterrell moments ago here and
he used the word aggressive today when it came to
the roster building component. Now, how aggressive we're talking about
where all this goes. That remains here to be seen
because have to give might think to younger players who
might be on the rise. But I think one thing
that we've learned, he's not afraid to pull the trigger
(30:08):
and get creative, and I think from there that's one
component which will help you usher in a new era
with taking this roster here to the next level.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a busy off
it has to be a busy offseason, has to be
an off season filled with filled with changes to upgrade
the lineup. And I think they can do that. I
don't think there's any doubt about that. But it is
challenging because a lot of teams have calorie salary cap space,
a lot of teams have draft picks if you want
(30:37):
to do offer sheets and things like that. So there
are some challenges along the way. But you know, these
these guys have never stood stood pad, They've never been complacent,
And you know, I truly believe, and you know, maybe
I'll look like the dummy more often than not, but
more so in a little while, like nine months from now,
ten months from now. But I like what they have
(30:58):
in the terms of the core here. You know, I
Mattie's got to get better, no doubt about it. But
Shane really took a big step forward.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
He wasn't afraid to mention Banier's right and Stevenson in
this conversation in this room minutes ago.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
You know, do you have a number one center?
Speaker 8 (31:12):
There?
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Probably have three number twos, So can you live with that? Maybe?
I mean Berkeley Caton maybe a number one, but not
for a few years. And he's probably gonna start playing
on the wing when he first gets up here next year.
So but they need they need to upgrade scoring. It
was weird that the defense took a step back this
(31:34):
season in terms of goals allowed, but I think that
came at the expensive offense or vice versa. I think
guys like done and certainly Montur felt like they really
had to press it offensively because that's what they're missing.
I mean, you know, yeah, goals four were up, that's great,
But why well, because the defense was still good in
terms of putting the puck in the net. You know,
(31:54):
among the the second or third in the league in
terms of defensive course scoring. So you're gonna take a
little Rod Peter to pay Paul there. But I still
like that that group of if you want to including
a hero who's a free agent. But I like that
group of six a lot. You know, is otto any
going to be up here? Maybe we'll see. So I
like that group and you know, you've got some decisions
(32:15):
to make in terms of your own free agents. But
with a Cymont probably being the top of the list,
Copple is going to get resigned, no doubt about that. Yeah,
Riker will get resigned. But yeah, they they've they've got
a good core. They just have to add to that.
And I think it's going to probably be easier to
add via trades than it is going to be for
via free agency.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
So when we get back to this here in a bit,
I want to first touch on the coaching situation. And
you know, I think we learned that Jason Botterrel still
considers this more of an open candidacy thing, and there's
not much of a preference here between an up and
coming resume to somebody with experience. Everett told us here
his meter learned leans more toward experience. But I think
(32:55):
to you initially here from the get go, what matters
more for this new.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Position, Well, I think the first thing in the first
place to start is I believe them when they say
that there isn't a guy that they have ready to go,
and that's why they got rid of Dan Bylsma, and
they're gonna make this hiring you know Liwiki did that
once before, got rid of Jim Moore when he was
the president of the Seahawks because they had Pete Carroll
and the wings ready to go. I don't think that
(33:23):
they have a Pete Carroll waiting in the wings this time.
I believe when they say that they're going to go
through the process, and there.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Might be a few out there, but they currently have
jobs also, and they're very well entrenched in those.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Jobs, right, or they're guys that are still under contract,
Like if they got fired and they are still under contract,
get permission. But I don't I don't think they have
one guy in mind. I think that when they say
they've already got kind of a list, Ron Francis told
me on the radio they got a list put that's
already put together of certain guys. But I think it's
be wide open. It's a massively important higher though, Mike, like,
you can't get this one wrong. Just can't get it wrong.
(33:54):
And I don't think they will. I think they'll do
the due diligence, get back to the game they want
to play. Yeah, I don't know if experience is necessary.
I asked Francis that he didn't say didn't say it
was necessary, but in the NHL it I should say.
So it's fun process, be fun to see somebody come in.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
What about to you in the experience game, the difference
that it makes between someone who's experienced at the pro
level than say, versus somebody who's experienced at the college.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Level, Well, I mean there's a couple of hammer college
coaches out there that are being named obviously, So I
don't know, you know, I I don't know. The transition
is probably easier now than it used to be because
the games aren't as different as they used to be. Like,
you know, the NHL is a little closer to the
college game. But you know the part that it is hard,
(34:42):
And this goes to what the biggest struggle is with
this team. This season's schedule. I mean, colleges play a
light schedule, a couple of games on the weekend.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
And it's gonna get harder next year too.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
For the NHL, it is. Yes, I've always thought guys
that coached in juniors, even though the players are younger,
could sometimes make the transition easier to the pros now,
not always successfully, obviously, but just because the schedule's similar
the college schedule is so different. You know, you're used
as a college coach to having four practices a week.
(35:13):
You don't get that luxury in the NHL. What do
they I mean help Coppocaco went like, how long three weeks?
Four weeks before he had a practice with the team
after you get traded here. So yeah, I think it's
but whether it's a college coach or an experienced NHL coach,
I think they'll make the right decision. But like I said,
they have to make the right decisions. They can't make
this one. Can't be wrong.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Again, what's sut this move off here to you? I
mean we could look at the coach change. Yeah, we
can look at defense. We could look at the oh
to twelves and back to backs here. You know, we'll
never know what was said in the exsit meetings, obviously,
but I think for me it always goes back to
defense because again I think you mentioned this and we
heard this from from another colleague, you know who was
(35:51):
on our post game shot earlier. And you can't rob
Peter to pay Paul. There was an up ticket offense here,
but the defense like also a step back, and Ron
Francis wasn't afraid to point out that structure was also
a big issue.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
In structure, they mentioned the word structure a million times.
I think that was it. You know, Ron said on
the radio to me today, and we talked a little
bit off there too, And then I'm not sharing trade
secret because he said the same thing on the air
as he did off the air. It was just you
watched the team too many times and thought they just
aren't as structured defensively as they needed to be. They
weren't as good in their own end. The tension to
(36:24):
detail wasn't there. And I mean with Ron France is
a Hall of Famer, and if he's looking down there
saying that this isn't good enough and his eyes are
telling him that it's not good enough and here's why,
then the change had to be made. So that was it. Yeah,
The oh and twelve jumps off the page. I know
they missed the playoffs by twenty points, and you say, well,
if they went five hundred in those games, so like
say they go, you know, six and six, so there's
(36:45):
twelve points for eight out. But it's a different feeling
eight out because you're probably in it till the end.
They weren't they were out of it by December, right,
and so you know trade deadline, for sure, they were
out of it. That was a part of it. I mean,
Groobou killed him this year, like let's not be let's
not pull any punches. He killed him, he was. He
gave him seventeen out of a possible fifty four points
(37:06):
in his starts, Like, I mean, that's you just can't
be that one.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
That's also a big roster question too, is what do
they do with gold done here?
Speaker 6 (37:17):
Well?
Speaker 2 (37:17):
And so look at those points and then you ask yourself,
like when Joey started kind of tailing off at the end, why,
I mean it's you felt like you couldn't play. You
had to play Joey probably more than you wanted to,
you know, I think. And Joey keeps himself, you know,
better than anybody in terms of shape and his conditioning
and all that stuff. But I mean I think he
wore down a little bit too. But new coach, new voice,
(37:41):
totally new voice, because Bilesman wasn't really a new voice,
being a Coachella Vale for a couple of years and
before that in Charlotte, right, So so it wasn't a
completely new voice. This will be a new voice and
a new knew everything when he comes in, whoever the person.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Is, would it be the least surprising to you to
see big roster moves made this summer by treyd by
offer sheet or by the free agent market least surprising,
least surprising?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
I think they, I mean the least survive trade probably.
I think it's free agency. There's just there's just not
anybody that's I mean Marner obviously.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
He's a big fish, But the question is does he
want to Lers Heelers.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Eelers is a guy too that comes into play, but
he's hurt a lot, and he's.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
And if you want Eelers or Brockbester, they have to
be a package deal. Maybe if you want, say the
value of like a brand new forty goal guy.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Right, you know nys is this offer sheet guy? But
the free I mean, actually, the hard thing is is
most of the top free agents are setters, Like almost
all of them are center Iceman.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
Well you're good, then what do you do with Beniers?
Are right? Or Stevenson? I don't think they're being moved
anytime soon?
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Well, yeah, Stevens's contract says no rights, no and Maddie's
kind of a cornerstone for the franchise. No, so you're
gonna have to try to find wingers, probably via trade.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Well, we're done. Finally we can go home, now, can we?
But yeah, I think so we can finally empty the tank.
I and you've done enough far to work. I always
appreciate you. We'll also be talking a lot more. I
know that you may need to fill in sometimes here
for your radio show. I'm always here.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Oh good, here.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I might ask you to come in tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
You're gonna be jetting out already. He's jumping into it.
I'm out of here already. All right, Well, mayor appreciate
you anytime, my tea.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
There you have it, big.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Thank you once again to new Kraken general manager Jason
botterrel ever it fits you, Ian Farness. As well. As
we are preparing for not exactly a low event summer,
the word aggressive use as far as how the kra
can want to build and sustain their roster coming this
offseason and plenty of options ahead right now, as far
as who could be filling the head coach position for
(39:46):
the twenty twenty five and twenty six season.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
No matter what happens.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
We've got you covered right here for the Krank and
Audio Network via the iHeartRadio app. Additionally, daytime programming in
ninety three three KJRFM has got you covered as well
in for Nees one to three, in addition to our
good friends Shocking Buck in the morning six to ten am,
MJ in the midday with Mark James ten to one,
Ian from one to three, and Dave Softy Maler and
(40:11):
Dig Faine taking it away three to seven pm weekdays
as well. Stay tuned right here via the iHeartRadio app.
By the way, you can also find Kjar at Twitter
and x at ninety three three Kjar on Instagram and TikTok,
as well as welcome back with you for each summer
development bay. Thanks again to Cracking GM, Jason Botterolz and
(40:32):
Everett Fits, you, Ian Fornes for joining us and for
overtime I Mike Beton, and thanks for pushing play.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
You're home for the Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point
three kjr FM
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