Overview of Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 678: Featuring Mike Malott
This episode was a wide-ranging mix of NHL reaction, hockey culture chaos, and a strong guest interview with UFC welterweight Mike Malott. The crew spent most of the show unpacking Ottawa’s electric homecoming for Brady Tkachuk, the fan chants and theatrics around that game, and several other league storylines including Columbus’ dysfunction, Buffalo’s goaltending mess, Montreal’s goalie debate, and Edmonton’s continued dominance. Later, they welcomed Malott for a detailed conversation about his fighting career, training, mindset, and how he balances the UFC grind with family and hockey ties.
NHL Talk and Biggest Storylines
Ottawa Senators fans and the Brady Tkachuk return
- The show opened with a major salute to Ottawa’s fan base for creating one of the most electric regular-season atmospheres in recent memory.
- Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa was treated like a full-scale event:
- a long pregame tribute/video
- relentless booing and taunting
- and a game that felt more like a playoff spectacle than an October matchup
- The hosts praised Ottawa for turning the night into a “content factory,” with the crowd, the chanting, and the on-ice hostility all feeding into the drama.
- Tim Stützle, Pinto, Cousins, and others were highlighted as being fully engaged in the matchup.
- The crew also noted the tension between Tkachuk and Ottawa, while acknowledging how much he meant to the organization.
Columbus Blue Jackets: frustration and dysfunction
- Columbus was described as one of the most miserable situations in the league right now.
- The conversation centered on:
- coaching volatility under Pascal Vincent/Babcock-era style pressure
- rumors of unhappy players
- the possibility of major roster movement, including Zach Werenski trade chatter
- There was also a rumor that Dmitri Voronkov may have ridden to the rink with Kirill Marchenko before facing each other, which became a symbol of how bizarre the situation feels in Columbus.
- The takeaway: the Blue Jackets are in a rough spot and could be heading toward another reset.
Buffalo Sabres: goalie crisis and Hellebuyck trade talk
- Buffalo’s goalie situation was a major topic, especially the criticism directed at Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
- The hosts discussed:
- a heated local radio exchange in Buffalo about whether UPL is the answer
- the idea that Connor Hellebuyck is available and would be a huge get
- whether Buffalo should move a roster player to make a deal work
- They debated Buffalo vs. Utah as possible landing spots for Hellebuyck, with Utah’s prospect depth getting a lot of praise.
- The main point: Buffalo’s issue isn’t just goalies, but they may need to make a bold move to stabilize the position.
Montreal: goalie debate and more Dobes/Fowler discussion
- In Montreal, the conversation focused on Samuel Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, and prospect Jacob Fowler.
- Dobes’ performance led to more questioning from fans after a shaky stretch, even though he looked good in the game discussed.
- The hosts emphasized how hard it is to judge a goalie situation in Montreal, where every save and mistake gets amplified.
- There was also discussion of Martin St. Louis’ comments about handling pressure and emotions as a goalie.
Edmonton and Minnesota: another high-end game
- Edmonton vs. Minnesota was described as another great matchup, with the Oilers continuing to look like a juggernaut.
- Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were praised, along with Evan Bouchard’s massive offensive upside.
- The Wild were credited for playing well and being more competitive than many expected, especially five-on-five.
- The hosts admitted they were wrong to doubt Minnesota earlier in the season.
Flyers, Michkov, and the “minutes” debate
- Matvei Michkov became a mini-topic again after another strong performance.
- The hosts pushed back on Flyers fans who were upset about his ice time, arguing that:
- teams need to manage leads and matchups
- not every late-game situation is about feeding a star’s stat line
- They also joked about how quickly fanbases turn on anyone who questions their young star.
Major On-Ice Notes and Other League Headlines
Florida Panthers
- Florida came under heavy criticism as the league’s most hated team, largely because of:
- the winning
- the physicality
- and the Tkachuk factor
- Seth Jones got praise for his strong play and was framed as another player thriving once removed from a bad situation.
- Aaron Ekblad’s physical style and reputation were also discussed.
Jake Allen’s 500th start
- The show gave Jake Allen credit for reaching 500 career starts, a milestone for an often underappreciated goalie.
- The hosts noted how rare it is for a goalie to hit that number and gave him his flowers.
Ron Duguay passing
- The episode also included a sad remembrance of Rangers legend Ron Duguay, who passed away.
- He was remembered as a charismatic, stylish former player and broadcaster.
Guest Interview: Mike Malott
Who he is
- Mike Malott is a rising UFC welterweight on a five-fight win streak.
- He’s coming off a major knockout and is now being discussed as a real contender in the division.
Key themes from the interview
How he got into fighting
- Malott said he became obsessed with combat sports after watching UFC as a kid.
- He described that moment as the instant he knew what he wanted to do with his life.
- He started with local martial arts and built his game through a patchwork of training rather than a perfect pathway.
Weight cuts and fighting discipline
- He talked in detail about brutal early weight cuts and how much smarter the process has become.
- He explained how extreme dehydration affects performance and why he now prefers to cut less and fight healthier.
Training structure
- Malott described a highly coordinated camp:
- striking coach
- wrestling coach
- jiu-jitsu coach
- MMA coach
- He emphasized how important it is that everyone on the team is aligned and not pulling him in different directions.
Mindset and mental coaching
- He’s worked with the same mental coach for years and believes mental training is as important as physical work.
- He stressed that fighting is a skill, but so is handling pressure, expectation, and fear.
Canadian roots and family
- His brother Jeff Malott plays in the NHL, which gave the conversation a strong hockey connection.
- He also talked about growing up in Canada, following Georges St-Pierre, and being proud of his path.
- He said he loves fighting in Canada because the atmosphere feels bigger and more intense.
Personality and humor
- Malott came across as humble, funny, and intensely focused.
- He also admitted he doesn’t care much about pre-fight trash talk or handshakes; he’ll fight anyone and move on afterward.
What stood out
- The hosts were genuinely impressed by how grounded he is.
- They also liked that he built his career, stepped away to coach for a while, then came back stronger and found his way to the UFC.
R.A.’s World and Pop Culture Picks
Recommended viewing
- The Smashing Machine / related Nathan Fielder-style discussion: the crew talked about experimental, awkward, and genius comedic filmmaking.
- Norm Macdonald documentary: R.A. strongly recommended it and raved about Norm’s one-of-a-kind comedic style.
- Carrie series: he recommended the new adaptation as a surprisingly strong watch.
- Dog Day Afternoon: his classic movie pick of the week.
R.A. anecdotes and sports tangents
- He shared stories about:
- coaching beer-league hockey
- the Brewers’ “forever ticket” controversy
- odd promotional stunts like bat nights and dollar beer nights
- his recent driving-and-listening trip back from New York
- He also gave a heartfelt mention to a family loss and a few friends landing good new jobs.
Main Takeaways
- Ottawa’s atmosphere for Brady Tkachuk’s return was one of the wildest regular-season moments of the year.
- Columbus remains a total mess, with trade rumors and coaching frustration swirling.
- Buffalo’s goalie situation is still unresolved, and a major move may be coming.
- Montreal’s goalie discussion is already becoming a season-long storyline.
- Edmonton looks like a powerhouse, while Minnesota continues to prove the doubters wrong.
- Mike Malott was an excellent guest: thoughtful, disciplined, and genuinely interesting, with a great story behind his rise in the UFC.