Overview of Spittin' Chiclets Episode 630: Featuring Pat Brisson, Lanny McDonald & Dave Babych
This episode (presented by Pinkies Up) mixes hockey news, long-form interviews and classic Spittin’ Chicklets banter. Hosts cover NHL trade/contract chatter, World Cup of Hockey politics, a major agent interview with Pat Brisson, a remote segment from an extraordinary outdoor rink build in Deline/Great Bear Lake (with Lanny McDonald & Dave Babych), and RA’s weekly roundup of stats, oddities and hot takes.
Key guests & segments
- Pat Brisson (super-agent) — in-depth, wide-ranging interview: background, how he became an agent, Sidney Crosby story, agent strategy, NIL/endorsement thoughts, youth recruiting and development, and hot-button contract/cap advice.
- Dave Babych (Babych) — live from Deline, Northwest Territories: building an outdoor rink on Great Bear Lake for the 200th anniversary of “birthplace of hockey” celebration.
- Lanny McDonald — alumni perspective, Hall of Fame memories, mustache nostalgia, fundraising/alumni work.
- RA’s World — stats, historical notes, quirky NHL rules, film/music picks and other news highlights from around hockey.
- Host Biz surprises the room with Wendell Clark-themed statue purchase and announces potential future Wendell, DougieG, O’Neill appearances.
Main takeaways and highlights
Pat Brisson interview — what matters
- Origin story: Brisson moved to L.A. in late 1980s, built early relationships with players (e.g., Luc Robitaille), transitioned from aspiring player to agent/marketing work.
- Sidney Crosby: Brisson first noticed Crosby at age 13; Crosby’s maturity, focus and development made him exceptional early. The 8.7 figure recurs in Crosby’s contract lore (noted as an AAV/contract talking point in his career).
- Agent market & player development:
- Brisson prefers later recruitment where possible — cites Sweden’s model (agents/approach begin in earnest at age 16) as healthier for development.
- He stresses parental roles: parents often drive premature hype; agents try to manage expectations and long-term development.
- Contracts & term advice:
- With the cap rising, Brisson increasingly favors shorter-term deals with higher AAV for top players (e.g., 4 years × higher AAV) because of physical risk in hockey and cap growth.
- Endorsements / equity lessons:
- Many endorsement opportunities could have benefitted from equity (VitaminWater, Whoop mentioned); but early equity is risky — agents typically insist on minimum guarantees.
- Mental health & performance:
- Brisson describes modern acceptance of sports psychologists and specialized support; for elite players, learning to channel effort and manage pressure is key (example: Nathan MacKinnon’s growth after sports-psych work).
- Draft & prospect views:
- Brisson says teams/agents often know the lottery/top picks well in advance; he still cautions against over-investing in 12–14-year-old hype.
Deline / Great Bear Lake outdoor rink (Dave Babych + Lanny McDonald)
- Project: Building an outdoor rink for Deline community (Great Bear Lake) to celebrate the 200th anniversary tied to hockey’s origins in Canada.
- Logistics: remote location (hour+ flight from Yellowknife), brutal cold work (fingers close to frostbite), local collaboration, boards/glass assembled quickly.
- Roster/guests: ~22 ex-NHLers participating, including alumni like Wendell Clark, Dougie Gilmore, and others; Lanny McDonald coaching/participating.
- Theme: alumni giving back, hockey culture in northern communities, lasting legacy for the town.
News, hot topics & notable debates
- Jack Hughes puck controversy: After the U.S. won Olympic gold, Jack Hughes asked about the puck from his gold-goal. Brisson explains the IOC/IIHF have an agreement that historically gives certain game artifacts to the Hockey Hall of Fame — the puck is reportedly at the Hall of Fame, which fueled social-media back-and-forth. Brisson and Hughes clarified after.
- World Cup of Hockey host cities & politics:
- Canada (Calgary + Edmonton) won key hosting bids; U.S. cities didn’t secure games. Hosts debate: some were surprised (given market size and dollar value).
- Russia debate: reports (unconfirmed by hosts) that Sweden/Finland/Czech might refuse to play if Russia participates. Episode panelists largely support including Russia for a true “best-on-best” tournament but note geopolitical sensitivities.
- Contract/GM chatter:
- Evgeni Malkin (Geno) contract timing and Penguins’ approach debated — whether to sign before playoffs or let it wait until offseason.
- Kyle Dubas’ stock is up in hosts’ eyes given Pittsburgh successes; Dubas discussed as candidate for Team Canada GM by some.
- Team-specific notes and worries:
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Biz teased a tongue-in-cheek rebrand “WWWD — What Would Wendell Do?” and claimed a 5-year Stanley Cup plan; Biz purchased an elaborate Wendell Clark metal jersey/statue for $5,000 at auction (proud new shrine).
- Oilers: Hosts optimistic despite injuries (discussed Leon Draisaitl recovery and goalie Stuart Ingram momentum).
- Colorado Avalanche: alarming stat cited — low team power-play rank (30th) despite otherwise elite roster, a playoff concern.
- Penguins: continued strong season, concerns around re-signing Geno and team chemistry.
RA’s World — notable stats, oddities & recommendations
- Stat flashes:
- Phenoms: in first 135 games, “Mac” (19-year-old phenom) and Connor McDavid producing historically elite numbers (Mac 158 pts / McDavid 157 pts in that stretch).
- Several single-season scoring/role comparisons invoked (players hitting 40-goal, 110-point paces).
- Cole Caufield: first Canadiens American-born 40-goal season; 24 go-ahead goals this season (all-time company: Brett Hull, Pavel Bure).
- Weird/interesting NHL items:
- Rare rule: if referees/linesmen can’t make a game, teams may appoint player-officials (historical example: 1983 NJ vs Hartford — players served until refs arrived).
- Equipment-manager shout-outs: some staff filling roles, e.g., emergency backups (e-bugs) with college players called in same-day.
- Human stories:
- Colin Dorgan (RI HS player) — scored overtime goals and led Blackstone Valley to D-II state title after tragic family loss; panelists moved by his poise.
- Movie/music picks: RA recommended Airplane! (classic comedy) and mentioned the new film Weapons (Amy Adams — awards surprise).
- Picks: suggested betting angle: Over 6.5 goals (Toronto vs Ottawa) for the coming Saturday night; Monday Night Hockey plug (Senators vs Rangers on Prime Video).
Notable quotes & lines
- “What would Wendell do?” — Biz’s humorous (but earnest) call to use Wendell Clark’s old-school grit as team inspiration for the Leafs.
- Brisson on prospect recruiting: “If you think you’ve arrived, you’re as good as gone.”
- On agent/GM evolution: Brisson — agents earned more respect over last 15 years; early days many GMs refused to engage.
- RA on Olympics/World Cup: “I want to see Russia in — I want best-on-best.”
Action items & recommendations (from the episode)
- Watch for the full Pat Brisson interview release (hosts flagged the segment as a big one).
- Follow/consider supporting the Deline/Great Bear Lake 200th-anniversary outdoor game and alumni events.
- Prime Monday Night Hockey: Senators vs Rangers (Monday, March 23rd) — available on Prime Video in Canada for Prime members.
- For listeners: check out sponsor promos (Jackpocket code PUCK2, DraftKings promo CHICKLITS, Lucy discount code CHICKLITS) — details in show.
- Content/entertainment suggestions from RA: watch Airplane! (classic comedy) and Weapons if you’re into awards/indie films.
Sponsors mentioned
- Pink Whitney (episode presenter)
- Chevy Silverado (ad read)
- JackPocket (lottery app — code PUCK2)
- DraftKings Casino (FlexSpins — code CHICKLITS)
- Lucy (nicotine pouches — promo via Lucy.co/chiclets)
Final notes / tone
- The episode mixes serious inside-baseball (agent & front-office insight) with typical Spittin’ Chicklets humor and locker-room stories. Brisson’s interview is the anchor — useful if you want pro-agent perspective on contracts, endorsements, player development and big-name clients (Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, etc.). The Deline segment and Lanny/Dave appearance highlight hockey-alumni culture and the sport’s community impact beyond pro arenas.