Roger did it first. (Patreon)

Never thought I'd say this but thank you, Vegas Golden Knights. While none of your flaws, misdeeds, or low moral character is forgiven, you have at least given me something of value: an excuse to talk about Roger Neilson.

If you know of Neilson, you are aware he brought an incredibly unique perspective to hockey. He was a trail blazer, at times a thorn in the league's side, beloved by his players not named Mark Messier ("wahhhh coach won't let me do what I want and expects me to play in a way more helpful to the team wahhhhhhhhh I'm a baby wahhh let baby be the sole executor of a league award that's about being a good person wahhhhhhhhhhhhh").

If you don't know Neilson, don't worry, we'll get you caught up here. In a career spanning four decades and littered with anecdotes, it was his time in Vancouver that offers a connection to this year's Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas had John Tortorella step in as interim coach step with eight games to go in the season and he lead that team to the Stanley Cup Final. In a vacuum, pretty neat and absurd and also, not unprecedented thanks to Roger Neilson.

And, in typical Roger fashion, how he took over Vancouver in 1982 could never be replicated before or since.

So regardless of your Neilson knowledge prior to watching, I hope you enjoy. It's mentioned in the conversation but we recorded this the morning after game one, and I was really hoping the series went seven for relevancy sake. Or for a Carolina win. So hey, here we are. This recording also happened on the morning that the Knicks vs. Spurs Finals was starting, so I'm just impressed Seth was able to stay composed. How far we've come.