Bill Ranford

0:00So so so how are things in LA? How are things going? Well, it's been a little bit of a struggle lately, you know We've been real up and down and you know, I think it's a little bit due to our heavy schedule before and after Christmas And you know the hides and loads of a young hockey team Yeah, and I'd like to talk about that especially the gold-tending situation there because obviously that's what you're there for and it's absolutely Fascinating with the two young guys, but I wonder about you. Do you miss the game? Do you miss playing? I don't miss playing at all. Not even one bit. You know, it's you know, it's it's been since 2000 and you know I was fortunate to play as long as I did and and have a many many fond memories, but you know, I've You come to realize that My days are past and then you live with that and you move on to other things and I'm really enjoying what I'm doing now

0:50Was it always goalie for you ever since the beginning? Pretty much. Yeah, I mean I played minor hockey a little bit of defense when I first started out But pretty much from like year three on it was in goal. How come do you know why I think you know early on? Living up in Cold Lake a friend of my dad's was a goalie and I think I had that fascination of the goalie equipment and You know, I had my own set of pads before I even played any organized hockey so it's kind of a goalie first and player second and then third time around it was full-time goalie You got you moved around a lot during your career What was it exciting to be traded? I always wondered that about a player because you move around a lot You're forced to move at the you know the drop of a dime and it basically started a whole new life So was it always exciting or was it painful? I? Think you know, I was you know when I look back. I was very fortunate to

1:39You know play as many years as I did in one spot and you know I had a little bit of success with with with not only with the Oilers But internationally and and when you when you have that success It sometimes make makes you you know that trade bait and and You know sometimes a wanted commodity so and and then as your your career Wines down it's it's that veteran presence that the teams look for you know They maybe go along with a young goalie or or something just to change things up So you know, that's kind of what goes with the territory in today's NHL that you know You tend to you might have You know a long stay early on but as your career winds down. It's you're usually moving around And it's not fun. I mean when you have a family. It's tough to move and if you come off a bad season and you move

2:30It's usually exciting to get a new start and you know every once in a while Things can start to get stagnant in one city and Sometimes a change is good was it a happy coincidence to go back to Edmonton or did you want that? That's what I was that's what I wanted to do I mean I played out in the East for like three three and a half years and It just I wanted to be back in the West Colesha the family Yeah, as I was winding things up and and Edmonton was my number one spot and I was just fortunate to be able to do a deal there And of course a lot of my listeners are gonna are gonna remember you and your fantastic years here What are you some of your finest memories obviously the two-cup wins, but but what else? Well, I think the thing about the city of Edmonton is just the fans support was was huge and

3:18Right from the first day that I arrived in Edmonton We had a practice at West Edmonton Mall and people you know kind of already knew who I was and I'd only been there for like three days and You know, it's just they take on their players with a lot of pride and it's a bit very knowledgeable hockey city So you can't really talk your way out of too many situations It's they understand the game and then yeah, you I think it makes you become more honest about your own play You say people knew who you were three days in and obviously I think that it's an Edmonton thing But it's also a Canadian thing. Well, there's no doubt about that. You know, it's it's the one of the few big sports in town and You know when I got there, you know the two big teams were the Eskimos and the Oilers and

4:05Everybody knew you know a guy would get traded everybody knew who they were and what they've done and so it's You know, it was a fun city to play and you know, it it was great that it was a smaller city You know the downfall is there wasn't a lot of room to move around but But I think that was also a positive aspect of the team that makes me think of two things one being the difference in Los Angeles Because I don't think it's probably that way there. Well, I'll tell you what it's it's kind of LA's kind of one of the best cats kept secrets in the in the league because most of the guys live within about five miles of each other and We're we practice in the same spot rate by the airport and and We probably have the easiest commute to the practice facility in the airport of anybody in the league

4:56And then with game days the only time we go down is to staples is to play games and As long as you're in the carpool lane, you you don't have much longer than a 25 to 30 minute ride. So It's a traffic you deal with any time You know the guys want to leave the beach area where most of the guys live. That's where it becomes a mystery. It could be a 15 minute drive could be a three hour drive You mentioned the young team it almost feels like you guys are gonna have a bit of a dynasty on your hands in a few years The cards are played directly. Well, I mean it's everything's got to fall into place You know you have to make some smart moves to get some veteran presents to go along with the young talent But I mean, you know if everybody plays to the potential. Yeah, there's there's an opportunity

5:42If you can some how fit it into the into the cap space that there's an opportunity for for this team to start Competing every year, but we're still quite a few puzzle pieces away and until we find those fits You know, it's still gonna be a battle and as you look at our conference It's not an easy conference to play in this year. No, not at all But you're I mean you're the goal-tenant coach you obviously have to have potentially two of the best young goalies in the league You decided to have Bernier play, you know I wonder about the decision on that to have him, you know He probably played what 20 games 30 games this season Rather than have him start in the HL. How come? Well, I think we came to the the decision, you know management did that it was it was time for To find out, you know, if he could compete on a daily basis at the NHL level he

6:32He went through the you know the the trials and tribulations of playing in American Hockey League learning that aspect and You know last year we gave him a goal of trying to be the best guy in the league and And he went out and proved that and was the top goalie of the HL and we just felt it was important You know to give him an opportunity and and also do You know, we realized that quick played way too much last year and and to give him a little bit of a push So it's it's a it's a high risk when you go with Two young goalies, but it was a risk that we're willing to take because we are a young hockey club. So I think the Decision from the from the organization was if we're gonna grow let's let's grow together as a young group

7:18What are you guys gonna do because I feel like the situation went real with luck and price last year is gonna be fairly similar for you Maybe this summer or next well, it gives you a commodity. There's no doubt and And you know, we'll deal with that when when the time comes but right now we need both guys and You know, we'll see what happens in a year or two and We you know if things go right when we have two guys that we know can play then then you have a commodity And maybe to make a push for that piece of the puzzle that's gonna make you competitive every night Is it hard being a goaltender with the ego thing? I read somewhere that Ed Belfort had to be the number one like, you know, he didn't want a secondary goalie to be decent He wanted, you know, just hire a veteran throw him behind me What was it like for you? Did you need that too? Is that is that a goaltender thing or is that just certain players?

8:08Well, I think it's a it's a if you don't have that mentality You know, then you're in the wrong position and I think that's been the biggest struggle for for Bernier this year's You know wanting more playing time and you know, he's always been a number one and But you know, you have to pay your dues and we've all gone through have gone through that I mean I did the same thing behind Grant You have to really complain the league on a consistent basis and and then the organization has to make a decision and And you know when you're you have that competitive spirit, you know, I wouldn't I wouldn't think anything You know different of Bernier if he didn't want to play play every night If he didn't have that want to play every night, then maybe he's the wrong guy. Let's get back to you though

8:56It's good about you and your career because we were talking about trades before and you had mentioned something that made me think of I guess it would have been just after you got there Gretzky being traded. What was the sentiment like in the dressing room? Well, I mean, it's Ironically to LA. Yeah, I mean I I was a young person a little bit in awe of the whole team at that time when I got traded there in in March and then to to make the Stanley Cup run and and When the cup with that with that special group of players You know for that trade to happen during the summer I think it just it not only shocked the world but it shocked our dressing room and But we were fortunate enough that From from the experience of the veterans that we had in the room

9:43the group realized First of all that we had to move on and and secondly that we could move on what what's next for you What do you want to do you want to stay in LA? What what do you want to do? You know, I think it's for me. I enjoy what I'm doing right now You know probably a long-term term goal once Once my girls are finished both finished school would probably be getting to a more of a full-time role but right now With my family still in Vancouver, you know the part-time role working with with the goal these full-time is is what I enjoy doing and You know the goalie coach slash Assistant coach is probably a long-term goal, but that's a few years away Awesome before I let you go five quick questions one more answers. Okay saw chucker plant oh

10:34Thought Chuck Lennener McCartney Lenin what or broader? Broder proudest moment in the NHL or in hockey actually if it in hockey Winning the Stanley Cup in the closed second world championships cool and one word bill ranford competitor