Overview of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 668: Pacific Division Preview
This episode is a Pacific Division preview packed with hockey analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, and the usual barstool banter. The main focus is on how each Pacific team stacks up heading into the season, with especially strong attention on the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, and Anaheim Ducks. The show also features a long, entertaining interview with Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy, who gives a candid look at the Flames’ rebuild, leadership changes, draft strategy, and new arena plans.
Craig Conroy Interview Highlights
Calgary’s rebuild and front-office philosophy
- Conroy explained why Calgary chose to pivot into a rebuild, emphasizing patience, draft capital, and giving young players real NHL opportunities.
- He said ownership understood the long-term plan once the team’s trajectory became clear.
- The Flames are focused on building the right way through the draft and selective trades rather than relying on free agency.
Young players and future core
- Conroy highlighted prospects and young NHLers like:
- Zane Parekh
- Connor Zary
- Matt Coronato
- Dustin Wolf
- Mikael Backlund / Blake Coleman-type leadership losses making room for younger players
- He emphasized that Calgary wants its young players to take on bigger roles and grow through mistakes, rather than being sheltered too much.
Goalie and defense outlook
- He had high praise for Dustin Wolf, calling him a real number-one goalie candidate.
- He also discussed Nikita Zadorov / Noah Hanifin-style veteran departures as part of the transition and noted that young defensemen will need to step up.
New arena and city energy
- Conroy said the new rink will be a huge boost for the organization, fans, and future recruiting.
- He described the current building as old and outdated, and said the new facility will bring modern amenities and better player experience.
Classic hockey stories
- The interview was full of stories about:
- Darryl Sutter
- Jarome Iginla
- Flames playoff runs
- playing with/against Sidney Crosby
- horse racing, pickleball, and old-school locker room culture
- Conroy came across as funny, candid, and deeply respected in hockey circles.
Pacific Division Team Outlook
Edmonton Oilers
- The hosts were extremely high on Edmonton.
- They praised:
- Connor McDavid
- Leon Draisaitl
- Evan Bouchard
- Zach Hyman
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- They loved the Mike Babcock hire as a accountability move.
- Edmonton was picked as a division winner and viewed as a serious Stanley Cup threat.
Vegas Golden Knights
- Still viewed as a top contender.
- Strengths noted:
- Jack Eichel
- William Karlsson
- Tomáš Hertl
- Strong center depth
- Solid defense
- Reliable goaltending
- The group expected Vegas to remain a playoff team and likely contend again, even if there’s some natural regression from last year’s run.
San Jose Sharks
- San Jose was one of the most-discussed “upside” teams.
- The hosts are bullish on:
- Macklin Celebrini
- Will Smith
- Michael Misa
- Zack Ostapchuk / young depth pieces
- Veteran additions like Ty Dellandrea / Tyler Toffoli / Marchment / Trouba / Darnell Nurse were all framed as helping establish identity and compete level
- The key questions were:
- Goaltending
- Defensive consistency
- Whether the young stars are ready to turn talent into wins
- Overall, they leaned toward San Jose making a major leap and possibly sneaking into the playoffs.
Anaheim Ducks
- The Ducks were the most debated team.
- Positives:
- Leo Carlsson
- Mason McTavish
- Cutter Gauthier
- Young talent on the blue line
- Strong goalie in Lukas Dostal
- Concerns:
- Heavy veteran losses on defense
- Cap pressures
- Too much burden on the kids too soon
- The group was split on whether Anaheim is ready; the final tone leaned skeptical, with some saying they could take a step backward before jumping forward later.
Los Angeles Kings
- The Kings were discussed as an old, thin team with a major dependence on Quinton Byfield.
- Main points:
- Byfield needs to become a true top-line center
- The blue line and depth are serviceable but not dynamic
- The team is vulnerable if its top young players don’t take a big step
- The hosts were not confident in the Kings’ playoff chances unless Byfield explodes offensively.
Vancouver Canucks
- The Canucks were firmly on the “no-watch” list.
- Main concerns:
- Elias Pettersson’s decline
- Weak forward depth
- Serious organizational issues
- Uncertain health of Thatcher Demko
- There was a lot of pessimism about Vancouver’s ability to move up from last season’s struggles.
Seattle Kraken
- Also on the “no-watch” list.
- The hosts said Seattle lacks star power and offensive punch.
- Even though they like parts of the blue line and players like Jared McCann, the overall roster felt too bland and too shallow.
- The Kraken were viewed as a team that’s easy to ignore outside of a few bright spots.
Calgary Flames
- Calgary was framed as a rebuild team, not a contender.
- The hosts praised the organization’s honesty about its direction and liked the potential of the younger core.
- The upcoming new arena was seen as a major long-term positive.
Other Notable Moments
DraftKings grudge match and golf banter
- A long chunk of the episode covered the crew’s golf grudge match and the chaos around the event.
- A lot of the humor came from:
- Hank’s left-handed switch
- “Getting netted”
- constant side bets
- the never-ending match format
- The segment was mostly comedic but also showed the group’s usual competitive dynamic.
Craig Conroy and old-school hockey culture
- Conroy’s stories about Sutter, Iginla, Crosby, and his own playing career were a major highlight.
- He spoke fondly about old buildings, hard practices, and the differences between today’s game and the era he played in.
Pop culture and media tangents
- The episode also wandered into:
- NHL video game graphics
- college football chaos
- Michigan vs. Western Michigan controversy
- recommendations like Superman (1978) and Lioness
- RA also chimed in with his usual mix of sports, pop culture, and side tangents.
Bottom Line
- Most confident playoff locks from the show: Edmonton, Vegas, San Jose
- Most skepticism: Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles
- Biggest wild cards: Anaheim and Calgary’s long-term rebuild
- Episode MVP: Craig Conroy, for giving a thoughtful, funny, and candid interview full of hockey insight and classic stories