Columbus Blue Jackets Senior Advisor John Davidson joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren to discuss the young core emerging (Adam Fantilli, Marchenko, Mateychuk, Kent Johnson all popping at same time), Johnny Gaudreau's tragic legacy galvanizing team identity, Sean Monahan's underrated leadership, and why Columbus is positioned for genuine optimism despite missing playoffs. Hear JD's heartfelt tribute to Sam Rosen's 40-year Rangers career and charity work raising tens of millions, the white-knuckle 1994 police car ride to Canyon of Heroes with million people and zero arrests, Rangers implosion analysis with best players falling backward simultaneously, Mike Sullivan's unrelenting coaching impact, Will Cuylle smart business from Lias Andersson trade, Alexei Kovalev Mike Keenan shift story, Rangers not built for playoffs playing east-west, and comprehensive playoff predictions. Plus Doug Armstrong planting trees quote, Gabriel Landeskog's remarkable Masterton Trophy comeback from cartilage transplant, Connor Hellebuyck inexplicable struggles, goaltending lineage from Giacomin through Shesterkin, Lundqvist's first practice impact, and why NHL playoffs are completely unpredictable making them fantastic theater.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: From Blue to Blueshirt to Blue Jacket with John Davidson

[01:00] - Three Things: UBS Financial Services, playoff updates

[02:00] - JD back on NHL Wraparound: 1994 special with Glen Healy cathartic

[03:00] - Jogging memory: very special time, makes your day

[04:00] - Paul Maurice: trade deadline podcast, called away for Toffoli trade mid-show

[05:00] - Happy for Paul: looked out of gas Winnipeg, revived in Florida

[06:00] - Life expectancy with coach in certain city: runs out, doesn't mean bad coach

[07:00] - St. Louis Blues: JD president years ago, Doug Armstrong hire by Larry Pleau

[08:00] - Doug's edge: nice man, understands business, no fear making decisions

[09:00] - 2019 Cup: 10 of 20 players JD brought in when with Blues

[10:00] - Doug quote: "Somebody plants trees, somebody else enjoys shade"

[11:00] - Draft and develop takes time: 2-3-4 years battle, everybody loses minds

[12:00] - Columbus same thing: team coming, gonna be good, well coached

[13:00] - Young players JD drafted: Marchenko, Fantilli, Mateychuk, Kent Johnson

[14:00] - All popping primarily at same time: self-satisfaction seeing them succeed

[15:00] - Montreal nosing out Columbus: frustrating not getting there

[16:00] - Week or two prior: weren't scoring, weren't very good

[17:00] - Analyzing after disappointment: Columbus in good position, good shape

[18:00] - Scoring talent: two or three areas need shoring up, Don Waddell working

[19:00] - Genuine room for optimism: Fabbro picked up waivers, fit with Werenski

[20:00] - Werenski best season: top three defenseman in game for sure

[21:00] - Sean Monahan: tutored Fantilli, underrated very good hockey player

[22:00] - Jeff Gorton: when Monahan healthy, we were much better hockey club

[23:00] - Missing Monahan with wrist: when in, leadership with young players

[24:00] - Boone Jenner leadership group: fought through tragedy and adversity

[25:00] - Washington series: skill versus grit and grime, would've given very good battle

[26:00] - Not a chance they would've intimidated us: toughness when needed

[27:00] - 2024-25 behind, Johnny Gaudreau tragedy: spinning forward to next year

[28:00] - Not taking anybody by surprise: how work this forward into mindset?

[29:00] - Young players know they're pretty good NHL players now

[30:00] - Understand how much stronger they have to get: summer to work on it

[31:00] - Instead of shocking feeling after Gaudreau tragedy: team galvanized

[32:00] - Johnny's wife spends time in Columbus: team rallies around her, very...