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Perhaps no athlete in the last week has gone more viral on the internet than Devin Cooley. Yes, the same Devin Cooley who has less than 50 games in the NHL and who didn't start playing in the NHL until he was 26, but here we are with him. He's creating clips everywhere. I felt nothing. I simply think that nothing matters. Nobody cares. We're all going to die. And my conscious brain is really bad at being a goalkeeper. Today he was simply unconscious. Like not thinking about anything. You know, if you ask me how I made a save, I'd say I have no idea. It's been an incredible story to watch. Who is he really, and what is this all about? That's what we'll see today on Top Shelf, presented by
Enterprise. The players need good transportation, and so do you. That's why we're here for the hockey community, with a great range of vehicles and a great team to help you find the right one. Hockey players don't go viral for nothing. I think it's safe to say that the NHL and its players are the worst at promoting themselves, the least marketable, however you want to look at it. These guys, saying that interviews are bad is a stereotype. That's what it's all about. Literally. I mean, you know, and these guys have rock-solid personalities, it seems, and some people like it, some people don't like it, you know, seriousness is
good and there's no one more serious than NHL players. Yes, they make fun of how dry they are all the time. And yet, here we have a substitute goalkeeper becoming the talk of the sport. And let's review the last 10 days or so for Devin Cooley. He posts.I was pulling up the numbers, like 100, 200 million views or more, for a single interview he does. Get a full profile article on ESPN. And if you want to know how rare that is, I do n't know exactly how often it happens. I did a couple of quick Google searches, you know, " ESPN backup goalkeeper". There is nothing. There is absolutely nothing. I think he's the backup for the Calgary Flames. These are not the New York Rangers or the Chicago Blackhawks.
Yes, a guy in Calgary playing goalkeeper. Full profile. Then he joins SportsCenter and is so good at SportsCenter that they want him back and he returns yesterday as a correspondent, and that clip of him commentating on Jameis Winston goes viral again on SportsCenter, not the Canadian SportsCenter, but the American one. And it sounds like a small thing, but I mean, it's definitely worth mentioning. He received a mention on the world's number one podcast, Joe Rogan's. Once again, this doesn't happen to hockey players. You take the greatest hockey players of all time, you take the most, you know, sociable of all time, and none of them get the attention that Dustin Wolf is getting right now.
How amazing is this guy, and how good is he not only for hockey, but for sports in general? You start, Josh. I mean, it's incredible, isn't it? And sometimes all it takes is a weird goalkeeper, and we know goalkeepers can be weird, but you know, Dustin Wolf is taking it a step further, and I just love his outspokenness. It's a breath of fresh air. TRUE? I mean, and I think the most important part of this is being overlooked a bit. Part of the reason he's in the spotlight now is because he's made some interesting statements over the years in his short time in the NHL, but the main reason he 's in the spotlight is that he's playing incredibly and has almost taken the number one goaltender spot from Dustin Wolf.
Yes. It's a really cool story. You mentioned it a moment ago. Not only because of his personality and all that, but because of the guy's path to the NHL; He wasn't a great prospect or someone expected to play in the NHL. And as you mentioned, it's not just the quotes, because in order to have quotes, you have to be playing well to be able to speak in front of the media, and he's been doing exactly that. I mean, you talk about all the media and things he's been doing recently and all the mentions and so on. And it's like, he's not one of the star players. He is technically still the backup in Calgary. We'll see how much longer that title lasts. But it's like, that fact, Calgary too, has a Calgary Flame ever had a
live interview on SportsCenter? And even less so a Calgary Flames team that everyone expects to finish in the bottom five of the league. I mean, it's not like the Calgary Flames are Stanley Cup contenders or anything. It's remarkable. It's absolutely the best story in the NHL right now, and honestly, it's the best story in recent NHL memory in terms of a guy with this kind of personality coming in and becoming a legitimate difference-maker for an NHL team. Yes, I'm glad you mentioned the journey he's taken to get here, because that's what I wanted to highlight on today's show.
I know everyone is watching him online and hearing a lot about him, but this guy really shouldn't be here to begin with. Yes. The journey he had to take to get to the NHL just adds another layer to how cool and unique this guy is. Well, he's from California. He obviously wasn't drafted, well, not obviously, but you know, he's definitely made it.I mean, you don't get to the NHL at 26 as a drafted goalie, but he wasn't drafted. He was the third-string goalkeeper at the University of Denver. So she manages to get a scholarship there.
He becomes the starter in his second season there, only to return to being the backup in his third season. As I said, without being selected, he signed with Nashville as a college free agent. He plays in the ECHL and the AHL until around 2024. He signs a deal with the Sabres. He never gets to play with them. He is transferred to the Sharks in 2024. Both goalkeepers get injured and then he puts on a masterclass in what was his fourth game, where he makes 49 saves on 50 shots, and at the same time as he, you know, talks about that game. This is where I believe the virality all started. I think, 'Wow, one goal in 40 shots or whatever. I feel good. It's like nobody cares. Like, you know,
nothing's really going to matter. We're all going to die.'" Devin Cooley says that. But he's right. He is not wrong. He's been doing this for a while. That was again after his fourth NHL game, but yeah, he takes off with the Sharks and then signs with the Flames in 2024. He continues playing in the AHL a lot. He became his backup last season at the age of 28 and in fact started for the USA at the World Cup ahead of Joseph Woll. Yes. That was surprising. Yes, that's something important because obviously, you know, this trajectory and where he's playing this season, that's something that could be, you know, the high point of his career so far, to reach that
level. And then, this season, he has a record of four and two. He's playing now above a guy who's winning, what? A $50 million contract for Dustin Wolf, who was supposed to be an amazing guy. Yes. And meanwhile, this guy earns just over a million a year and now he's a starter. And it's been crazy journey for this kid. And as we said, now he's in the spotlight. And all I think when I read all this is, can you imagine if I were a really good goalkeeper and how much attention I would get if I'd been doing this for years? And it seems he could be a very solid goalkeeper. The funny thing about him is that he always showed
flashes of brilliance. And like in Denver, you mentioned his time there, his only season sharing the starting role was very good. And the only reason he wasn't a starter the following year is because a very promising recruit, Magnus Chrona, arrived. So they signed him because he's a goalkeeper with potential who showed flashes of brilliance in Nashville and gradually made his way up the ladder. Over time he becomes a starter in the AHL. And in that 2023-24 season, he was the goalkeeper who shared the starting position in Buffalo's affiliate. They only switched him to San Jose because they had two injured goalkeepers and needed someone before the deadline. And he's from California. He was a "Junior Shark". So his NHL debut was
with his hometown team. Brilliant. You mentioned the 49 saves he made. But in the next game he allowed eight goals against the Edmonton Oilers. And you think about how many goaltenders get one shot in the NHL or maybe a game like that 49-save game, or something similar, and then they're cut from the league without getting a second chance, right? Like Devin Cooley, who did not stay as an NHL goaltender after that first opportunity in San Jose. He signed with Calgary and is the one from the AHL. He also played well last year. Yes. So he's the AHL guy and got the opportunity to be the backup last year. There are many types who don't get that second chance. And I think it's great for
someone like Cooley, who has shown flashes and has that natural ability, to receive that second chance, take advantage of it, become an NHL regular, and now see him blossom this year with that confidence. He has, as you mentioned at the beginning, but besides all the personality that's attracting this attention, there's a really good player who's a big, athletic guy. It's like, yes, there's potentially something here. That is, he is 29 years old. He could become someone important. Goalkeepers appear out of nowhere all the time. We see this every year. We were talking about Dylan Garand a couple of weeks ago, you know, Brandon Bussi last year. These stories happen because it's a very unique position, right? And I think that's what makes
these goalkeepers interesting; it's a position like no other in sports. You're very isolated, you have your own team, you basically play a different sport, and you have a huge impact on the game. Yes. It's simply insane. So I think that's part of the reason why we see these peculiar types emerging And going back to that peculiarity, what's recent and curious is the unconscious brain, isn't it? He's been talking about that state of flow, about playing unconsciously. But that's a key reason why it's succeeding right now, isn't it? A large part of it is the technical aspect and that innate ability. A large part of being a goalkeeper is also the mental aspect. And the Flames' goalkeeping coach
, Jason LaBarbera, recently commented that this is a kid who came in with natural ability, but without a game plan. They have worked with him and helped him get to where he is today, and one of the reasons we are talking about him today is because of those statements about his unconscious brain, that nothing matters, and so on. We laugh a little when you hear that. But that's a key reason why it's succeeding. It's that mentality that if you make a mistake, oh well, just keep going. It doesn't matter. Yes, none of this matters. I think it's not just a great story because of his career, his natural ability, and the fact that he could be a
good NHL goaltender, but also because of his personality. I think there's a lesson we can all learn in that mistakes happen. Things happen, move on. Not every mistake is the end of the world, and I think there's something almost valuable in that. professional athletes, you know, most often basketball or American football players, who are nice guys. If you look at, I don't know, someone like Richard Sherman or the Manning brothers, guys who are outspoken, who say what they think and can hold a conversation, but nobody in sports is more comparable to an ordinary guy who suddenly ended up in a
high-ranking position. Accidentally became important at work. in a professional sport like Devin Cooley. You look at it and it's like they interviewed someone off the street talking about their everyday office job or something. So that's what I find so special about what he's doing. And yes, I'm glad we were talking about how he's really been playing well, because that was the follow-up question I wanted to ask you. Is he really that good, and what kind of difference can he make for Calgary this season? Does he have enough merit to have, I don't know, any kind of trade value? Could he be a number one replacement for much of the year? What are your thoughts on Devin Cooley's value as a hockey player, not as a personality
I think that for me, with goalkeepers, the question is always why not? Players are constantly emerging in goal, and it's not like this is just a flash in the pan over a couple of games. He was legitimately good last season as a backup there in Calgary. Yes, and he's on this streak of four games, four straight starts, four straight wins. And again, it all comes down to their natural tools. He is a six-foot-nine goalkeeper who is athletic. That's a prototype that many teams like. So, in terms of the trade-off aspect, I think teams will have to look much more at this performance. But as for Calgary, if he can get them some wins, it's a team that, well, he talked about it himself recently too.
One of the things he said is that the " tank team" won't like him winning games. He will receive direct messages regarding the "tank team ". Uh, but as for Calgary, if they're winning games, it's probably thanks to the goalkeeper, and that's not happening with Dustin Wolf right now. And yes, it's happening with Devin Cooley. Uh, yes, I think it's more likely that he'll become a candidate to be transferred to a team looking for a goalkeeper. He signed a 2-year contract with a low salary impact. If he has a great season and proves that he can at least be a shared starting goalkeeper with that salary, for a team looking for a 1B player or someone in goal. I definitely think it would have some value, especially
considering that the goaltender position in the NHL is often undervalued, as we saw with Connor Hellebuyck. Yes. Do you think teams would hesitate to hire him knowing the kind of service he provides.? They see a strange goalkeeper and say, " How nice!" Yes. They think, "No, this guy is peculiar. He's going to be like a stone wall on the net." Exactly that. I like that the Flames have given him playing time and don't just give Dustin Wolf every other game because he has a big contract and he's supposed to be the right guy. I think that's good for the team culture. As if to say, "Hey, if you play well, you'll get playing time." So, especially, that's a big point. Given the
situation they're in, where perhaps at this moment they want Dustin Wolf out, people want them to lose on purpose. But yes, and it looks good on paper because they say: "Yes, here's your star goalkeeper who earns 50 million." Yes, of course he'll play most of the games and we'll lose, because that's what they do. Millions on a goalkeeper when you have a long-time AHL substitute who has a rabbit? It 's perfect. Who is your rabbit? Sports psychologist, too. Yes, I saw something good in his wife. He said, "What do you do in your free time?" And I was just doing linear algebra on the computer. Like them, he is. That sounds fun.
It's very strange. doing linear algebra. The fact that he has a pet rabbit is so strange. No, it's great. Literally, everything you learn about this type gets better. Yes, it's very good, and for those who are just getting to know hockey goalies, this segment of our main Enterprise selection is for you, because it's not just about one specific type. I think you can ask any hockey fan: goalies are the weirdest people in hockey, and probably in all sports too. For our top pick segment, I want us to talk about our favorite eccentric goalkeepers of recent times. There are many, so we have plenty to choose from here.
We have guys like Bryzgalov, Binnington, you know, you could pick CuJo, whoever. Josh, we'll start with you. Who is your favorite eccentric goalkeeper? I'll choose someone you didn't mention, a goalkeeper I think everyone loves for nostalgia's sake, Arturs Irbe. Of course The late 90s and early 2000s were that sweet spot, a strange sweet spot for goalkeepers where some clung to old gear, like Hasek's mask, which was just a helmet with a cage. Yes, yes. And others had actually adopted the new equipment, such as the cat-eye mask and modern gear. And man, Irbe clung to that old equipment with his life. It seemed like he had been playing with it
since he was growing up in Latvia. Yes, he literally looks like he's from 1983 and he was playing like it was 2000. He would hand-stitch his own pads, blocker, and glove when they broke; it was incredible. You never see that anymore, and yet he used the old mask and had some very good periods where he was really effective. I remember when he blocked the Leafs in the 2002 Eastern Conference final to lead Carolina to the cup. So yes, Irbe is definitely my favorite. Sewing your own cushions by hand is crazy, it's something that will never happen again. No, no, no. No, absolutely not. And who are you going with, Kyle? There's only one type, right? Ilya Bryzgalov. When you think of strange and peculiar goalkeepers, especially in recent history,
and in the vein of Devin Cooley being a guy of famous quotes. Hasek was the kind of guy you look at and say, "Man, what is this guy doing?" But Bryzgalov is the kind of guy you listen to and think, "What is this guy saying?" Whether it's just a game. Why do you have to be angry? Whether it's the "humongous big" solar system or whatever, or the bear in the forest. There are so many great quotes from Bryzgalov and different stories from teammates and all that. It seems that everyone who interacted with him during his career, whether media, teammates, or even coaches, all have peculiar stories or
things to say about him. And there's a reason you think of eccentric or weird goaltenders, and for people of a certain age or who grew up with Bryzgalov being one of the NHL's most outstanding goaltenders, he 's the one who comes to mind. I would love to put Cooley and Bryzgalov in a room and just listen to them talk about their perspectives on life and goalkeeping, and we were just talking about how Jason LaBarbera, the Flames' goalkeeping coach, can coach Devin Cooley. He was Ilya Bryzgalov's backup in Phoenix. That guy must have some stories. I've heard a few things. Yes, Bryzgalov is so legendary because it seems that every time he was in front of the camera, a clip came out. It was
incredible. Can you imagine being a teammate of that guy and being around him all the time? Imagine being his substitute. Just thinking about what that would be like. That would be a lot of fun. So yes, I think Bryzgalov is important. Probably my favorite answer. I'm only going to choose Cooley. If it comes down to choosing between Cooley and Binnington, is Binnington a weird and eccentric guy? Absolutely. But he is more.he is more about rage. It's a very different style. based on rage. Yes. Where he, yes, is like the little boy with the worst. In a good way. I mean, that's a compliment. Cooley is kind, friendly, shows himself as he is, and all the rest. And this, again, in this kind of
society we're in now, with how much everything can go viral and in fact does go viral, and with how little hockey players are in the spotlight, you'd think now would be the time of all time for NHL players to really show up, and we're not seeing that at all. So, for him to be doing this right now, I think it's incredible, and he's just very authentic. Like I said, it's like a guy with a 9-to-5 office job who just happens to be defending the goal for an NHL team right now. So, Devon Cooley is my choice for our Business Topic segment here. It's been a fun conversation. I'm glad we were able to shed a little more light on him. He's obviously been getting a lot of attention lately, but I don't know if everyone knows his story,
how he actually got here, and the simple fact that he's a good goalkeeper. And let's hope he continues to play well, that we get more and more interviews, and that we keep talking about him, yes. Yes, so that's the main thing to follow. Will Devon Cooley be able to keep playing well so we can continue to get amazing clips of him? Um, keep an eye on that. But we hope you enjoyed this episode. This has been Top Shelf presented by Enterprise. Don't forget to like and subscribe. We'll see you all next time.
