Overview of Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 672: Featuring Mike Keane
This episode mixes the crew’s early-season NHL reactions with a long, entertaining interview with three-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Keane. The opening portion covers standout storylines from opening night, including Edmonton chaos, Pittsburgh’s new-look lineup, Toronto’s blockbuster trade, and a rough start for several contenders. The second half centers on Keane’s career journey — from undrafted grinder to three-time champ — plus stories about Pat Burns, Patrick Roy, the 1990s Canadiens/Avalanche, and what it takes to survive in the NHL.
NHL Opening Night Takeaways
Edmonton’s “that was ridiculous” game
- The crew spends a lot of time on the Oilers’ wild 6–5 loss to Vancouver.
- Mike Babcock’s reaction to Edmonton’s chaos is a highlight: the crew jokes that he hit his “that was ridiculous” line way too early in the season.
- Evan Bouchard is praised for looking like a star-in-the-making with a huge opener.
- The panel jokes that the Oilers are still the same team: turnovers, bad goaltending, and constant comeback attempts.
Pittsburgh’s strong start
- The Penguins’ 7–0 win over Philadelphia gets major attention.
- Nick Robertson is singled out for a huge breakout performance on Sidney Crosby’s line.
- The younger players on Pittsburgh are praised for feeding off Crosby’s presence and playing with extra urgency.
- The Flyers’ home opener is labeled one of the worst efforts in recent memory.
Toronto’s trade for Matthew Knies / Nikita Marchenko
- The Leafs trade Matthew Knies and other pieces for Nikita Marchenko, Miles Wood, and Elvis Merzlikins.
- The hosts debate whether Toronto sold low on Knies or upgraded by landing a higher-ceiling player.
- The deal is framed as both a hockey move and a statement move, since Montreal reportedly wanted Marchenko badly too.
- The consensus: Toronto fans are divided, but Marchenko’s speed and offensive upside are hard to ignore.
Other opening-night notes
- Florida vs. Carolina is described as a playoff-style, low-space rock fight.
- The Rangers look flat, while the Bruins get credit for a strong start and a Jeremy Swayman shutout.
- Colorado is again described as a wagon, with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar setting the tone immediately.
- Vegas also gets a big nod for looking dominant against Chicago.
Mike Keane Interview Highlights
From undrafted to three-time champion
- Keane tells the story of going undrafted, earning a tryout with Montreal, and eventually carving out a long NHL career.
- He says his path was built on being hard to play against: not the best skater, not the flashiest player, but reliable, physical, and coachable.
- He emphasizes that older coaches and structured systems helped him thrive.
Pat Burns, discipline, and accountability
- Keane repeatedly credits Pat Burns as one of the most important influences on his career.
- Burns’ hard-nosed coaching style is described as intense, direct, and brutally honest — but effective.
- Keane says Burns and Search of Art shaped him professionally and helped him understand what it meant to be a pro.
Playing with legends
Keane shares stories about a long list of Hall of Fame teammates and coaches:
- Patrick Roy: described as a world-class goalie and a major reason teams he played on won.
- Joe Sakic / Peter Forsberg / Claude Lemieux / Adam Deadmarsh / Valeri Kamensky: the core of the Avalanche teams.
- Wayne Gretzky / Brett Hull / Mike Modano / Ed Belfour: all praised as elite, unique competitors.
- The Sedin twins: he talks about how impossible they were to tell apart early on.
- Theo Fleury: Keane says Fleury belongs in the Hall of Fame and calls him one of the great undersized players in NHL history.
Montreal, Quebec City, and the Roy trade
- Keane gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Patrick Roy trade from Montreal to Colorado.
- He describes the move as shocking, emotional, and chaotic, with all kinds of “cloak and dagger” meetings and media pressure.
- He also talks about the intense Montreal market and how a single misquoted French-language comment created backlash.
- His takeaway: Montreal is passionate, unforgiving, and unlike any other place he played.
The 1996 Colorado run
- Keane reflects on how quickly the Avalanche became a powerhouse after the Roy trade.
- He says that team’s success came from having elite talent plus depth and role players who chipped in.
- He also recounts the bizarre, intense rivalry atmosphere with Quebec and the importance of Roy’s arrival.
The legendary Jagr, Hitch, and other coach stories
- Keane shares several funny and intense stories about coaches like Ken Hitchcock, Bob Hartley, Crawford, and others.
- Hitch in particular is portrayed as a demanding perfectionist who pushed players relentlessly.
- One of the funniest moments involves Keane physically wrestling Hitchcock during an argument in the locker room.
- Despite the tension, Keane says Hitchcock was a great coach who prepared teams properly.
World Junior brawl in Piestany
- Keane revisits the infamous Canada-Russia brawl where the lights were turned off mid-fight.
- He explains how chaotic it was and how players were literally throwing helmets and gloves over the glass.
- The story reinforces the “old school” feel of that era of hockey.
Serious Off-Ice Discussion: Arizona State Tragedy
The Matthew Mayich story
- The hosts spend significant time on the heartbreaking death of Arizona State player Matthew Mayich after an allegedly unsafe workout in extreme heat.
- They criticize the handling of the situation, the lack of immediate medical response, and the coach’s comments afterward.
- They stress that the situation was preventable and deeply negligent.
Concerns about coaching and player safety
- The discussion expands into a broader warning about military-style workouts being inappropriate for hockey players, especially in extreme heat.
- They praise the players who spoke up and express sympathy for Mayich’s family and teammates.
- It’s one of the most serious and emotional segments of the episode.
Other Sports and Media Talk
Baseball and the playoffs
- The crew briefly discusses the MLB postseason, including:
- Justin Verlander’s emotional final Tigers appearance.
- Bryce Harper’s comments after a fielding mistake.
- The Red Sox being called out for a terrible performance.
- They also debate the strange structure of baseball’s playoff format.
TV, podcasts, and recommendations
- The crew plugs various upcoming games and notes future NHL matchups to watch.
- RA recommends the film Rushmore as his classic pick of the week.
- He also highlights a few Paralympic sled hockey retirements and gives them proper credit.
Main Themes and Takeaways
- The NHL season is back, and the league already has major storylines.
- Sidney Crosby’s leadership remains a central point of admiration.
- Nick Robertson / Nikita Marchenko-type young players are getting chances and making the most of them.
- Three-time champion Mike Keane comes across as humble, funny, and deeply knowledgeable.
- Coaching culture has changed, but old-school accountability and structure still get respect.
- Player safety matters, and the Arizona State tragedy prompted the most serious reflection of the episode.
Notable Quotes and Moments
- “That was ridiculous” — Babcock’s early-season reaction to Edmonton’s mess.
- Keane on goalies: they have to be “a little bit brain dead” to stand in net.
- On Patrick Roy’s trade: a “cloak and dagger” situation that shocked Montreal.
- On Pat Burns: one of the biggest influences on Keane’s career.
- On Theoren Fleury: Keane says he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Final Thought
This episode is a strong blend of hockey analysis, old-school stories, and real emotional weight. The opening-night chatter captures the chaos and excitement of a new NHL season, while Mike Keane delivers a classic Spittin’ Chiclets-style interview full of honesty, humor, and legendary hockey history.