Spittin' Chiclets Episode 654: Cup Final Update + Babs is Back?

Summary of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 654: Cup Final Update + Babs is Back?

by Barstool Sports

1h 32m•June 12, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 654: Cup Final Update + Babs is Back?

This episode is a wide-ranging playoff wrap-up centered on the Stanley Cup Final, where the hosts break down Carolina’s surge, Vegas’ lineup and goalie issues, and the rising impact of Jordan Staal and Brandon Bussi. They also dig into the reported Mike Babcock-to-Oilers coaching rumors, celebrate Nikita Kucherov’s Hart Trophy, and close with “RA’s World” recommendations plus some off-ice stories from the crew’s Boston trip.

Stanley Cup Final Recap

Carolina’s big swing

  • The hosts say Carolina has taken control of the series with its best all-around hockey of the playoffs.
  • Jordan Staal is the centerpiece storyline:
    • Scoring at a historic rate.
    • Dominating faceoffs, penalty killing, and net-front play.
    • Looking like a captain who knows this may be his last real Cup run.
  • They note Staal has scored in five straight Stanley Cup Final games, a feat not seen since the 1950s.

Brandon Bussi steals the spotlight

  • The crew is impressed by Brandon Bussi, who stepped in and delivered in the Final after being claimed on waivers and working his way up.
  • They credit him for:
    • Settling Carolina down after a shaky start.
    • Making big early saves in Game 5.
    • Showing poise in his first major playoff action.
  • They repeatedly frame his story as one of the best underdog goalie arcs they’ve seen.

Vegas’ issues

  • Vegas is criticized for:
    • Poor discipline and costly penalties.
    • Defensive mistakes and “brain farts” at key moments.
    • Breaking up lines at the wrong time and losing chemistry.
  • The hosts say the Knights’ usually reliable structure has slipped, especially after injuries and the goalie uncertainty.

Goalie debate

  • There’s a long discussion about whether Vegas should stick with its current starter or try a change.
  • The panel argues that:
    • If you’ve ridden a goalie all season, you usually stick with him.
    • But once the confidence drops and injuries pile up, the decision gets harder.
  • They also point out that Carolina’s goalie change to Bussi was made at the right time and has paid off.

Key Hockey Takeaways

Line changes mattered

  • On the Vegas side, they felt the coach shuffled the lines too much.
  • They specifically mention that Jack Eichel is most effective when paired with the right wingers, and that certain combinations were disrupted for no good reason.
  • On Carolina’s side, Rod Brind’Amour is praised for smart adjustments that spread offense and balanced his forward groups.

Carolina’s depth is winning the series

  • Beyond Staal, they highlight:
    • Sebastian Aho
    • Andrei Svechnikov
    • Jackson Blake
    • Marty Necas
    • Jaccob Slavin / Brent Burns / Shayne Gostisbehere type contributions
  • The main theme: Carolina is getting goals from multiple lines, not just one star unit.

Home crowd and atmosphere

  • The Carolina crowd gets a lot of love:
    • Loud, engaged, and standing for long stretches.
    • Described as more intense than many expected.
  • The hosts note the building feels like a true playoff environment.

The Mike Babcock-to-Oilers Controversy

This is the biggest non-playoff discussion in the episode.

Why it’s controversial

  • The hosts call the reported Mike Babcock hiring plan for Edmonton a “clown show” and “desperation.”
  • They point to Babcock’s history:
    • Public criticism from former players.
    • Prior allegations of invasive behavior and mind games.
    • The Columbus situation that ended before he coached a game.

Mixed reaction

  • One side of the discussion says:
    • He is a very good coach.
    • He has won at high levels.
    • McDavid and Draisaitl may want a harder-edged coach.
  • The other side says:
    • The Oilers have too many elite coaching options to justify this risk.
    • The optics are bad.
    • The organization looks disorganized.

Bigger point

  • They stress that if this hire happens, it could eventually become a lever for McDavid and Draisaitl to push for change if things go sideways.
  • But overall, the tone is strongly skeptical of Edmonton’s decision-making.

Around the League

Nikita Kucherov wins the Hart

  • The crew congratulates Nikita Kucherov on winning the Hart Trophy.
  • They praise:
    • His outrageous point pace.
    • His work ethic and offseason training habits.
    • His consistency as one of the league’s true elite talents.
  • They also note Tampa’s strong awards showing:
    • Vasilevskiy getting recognition.
    • Cooper getting coaching honors.
    • A very successful season for the Lightning’s core.

Other NHL notes

  • Laviolette landing in Los Angeles gets a quick mention as another example of a coach who keeps getting opportunities.
  • The hosts also poke at the Oilers’ ongoing front-office/coach chaos as part of a broader league-wide “what are we doing?” theme.

RA’s World / Off-Ice Segments

Boston trip and crew stories

  • The crew recaps their Boston visit, including a strong sandbagger outing and plenty of Pink Whitney.
  • There are jokes about:
    • Wild post-game drinking.
    • The crew’s travel troubles.
    • Memes’ caddie skills and golf-course chaos.

RA’s recommendations

RA closes with several viewing suggestions:

  • Minority Report — a sci-fi thriller he says still holds up.
  • Song Sung Blue — he praises it as an emotional, well-acted true-story film.
  • BlackBerry — a surprisingly good movie about the rise of the BlackBerry phone.
  • A Rafael Nadal documentary — added to his weekend watch list.
  • He also mentions the World Cup atmosphere and some interesting fan stories.

Looking Ahead

  • The hosts expect a dramatic Game 6 and are split on the prediction:
    • Some lean Vegas to force a Game 7.
    • Others think Carolina can finish it.
  • Their final tone: this series has exceeded expectations and delivered the kind of wild, high-drama hockey they wanted.

Final Takeaway

This episode is really two shows in one:

  • A deep, emotional breakdown of a chaotic Stanley Cup Final, with Jordan Staal, Brandon Bussi, and Carolina’s depth driving the conversation.
  • A heated league-wide rant about Mike Babcock, the Oilers’ coaching search, and the weird decisions top NHL teams keep making.

If you want the quickest summary:
Carolina is surging, Vegas is unraveling, Bussi has become a playoff story, and Babcock’s possible NHL return has everyone fired up.