Five for Fighting - Chat with Robbie

Welcome back to Five For Fighting with Kevin Bieksa. Today I'll be interviewing the GM of the Hartford Whalers, Robbie Morton. Robbie, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here today and talk everything Whalers.

Kevin: Robbie, first off tell us a little about yourself.

Robbie: Ah, where to begin with the epic saga that is me, Robbie? I'm a connoisseur of fine memes, a master of procrastination, and a firm believer in the power of a nightly hot tub soak.  I'm a 43 year old father of two girls (23 and 16), and a husband of 23 years.  I was born and raised on a farm near Biggar, Saskatchewan and left Saskatchewan in 1998 for Calgary to attend DeVry Institute of Technology.  I work for Cenovus Energy (formerly Husky Energy) for the past 16 years in IT.  I am also a big believer in volunteering, working with our local Community Association for the past 12+ years.  My wife and I have also started a fitness journey over the past year and a half, combined we are well over 150 pounds down.  I'm currently training for a big race in Drumheller on my birthday.

Kevin: Have you played hockey before or coached in any capacity?

Robbie: I played minor hockey until I was 1 year into contact hockey whatever age group that was in Saskatchewan in the 90s (Pee Wee?).  My skill level was not high enough to make me comfortable on the ice once contact started.  I've been curling since I was under 10, and still curl weekly.  Much more comfortable on the curling ice than the hockey rink.  Curling is not near as easy as the professionals make it look by the way.

Kevin: Who is your favourite NHL Hockey team and why?

Robbie: My favorite team has always been the Calgary Flames.  The first game I remember seeing was in 1989 against the Canucks with Mike Vernon' epic save on Stan Smyl and Lanny McDonald' epic mustache with the Cup.  Mike Vernon has always been my favorite player and it was amazing to see him get his Hall of Fame induction this year.  Brad McCrimmon lived very close to where I grew up, and when he had his day with the Cup that summer one of my number one regrets in life was not going to see the Cup that day.

I worked for the Flames when I first got to Calgary in 1998 in concessions.  Over those years I got to meet a lot of visiting players in the bottom of the Saddledome.  I've been able to skate on the Saddledome ice multiple times.  Pretty emotional to get to skate on that ice and mimic your heroes.

Kevin: Any other sport(s) that you follow?

Robbie: Curling.  I am a CFL season ticket holder for the past 10 years or so.  Sad to see the CFL attendance twindling more and more every year.  They sure need to get the young crowds in there.  NFL, I've been a fan of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders for the past 20 years or so.  Unfortunately theyve been terrible for almost all of those years.  AHL, my family has been lucky enough to see a few Wranglers games.  They do not draw crowds very well but the hockey is great.  WHL, my family has seen a tonne of Hitmen hockey over the years.  Always neat to see future stars like Ryan Getzlaf and the opposite (Pavel Brendl).  MLB, I've been lucky enough to attend a few Angels games over the years.  One game in Toronto to see the BlueJays, but I've always had a liking for the Cleveland Indians because of Major League.

Kevin: What goals and expectations did you have entering the season?

Robbie: I thought we had a good chance to win the Stastny Division this year.  The Nordiques and the Panthers are both in down cycles, leaving us and the Lightning.  Scotty and the Lightning beat us 5 or 6 times in mid-season and had a huge division lead on us, I conceded the division, and then we still managed to chip away and add another Stastny Championship banner to the rafters.

Kevin: What's your opinion concerning your team after a first round exit this year?

Robbie: We could not score in a room full of two cent whores with a suitcase of $100 bills.  Hird did a really good job shutting down our big stars.  Congrats to the blue leaves on their well deserved win.

Kevin: Any surprises as per your team good or bad?

Robbie: We have decided to let Joe Pavelski test free agency this year.  We are hoping he will still want to return to Hartford, but he will be available to everyone this summer if you have got big cash to spend.

Kevin: What's next for the Whalers??

Robbie: Hoping for some more Brass Bonanza and a second RSHL Championship soon.

Kevin: What's your take on the RSHL draft? I understand this will be your first.

Robbie: First what?  We are big fans of the RSHL draft.  We have one of the largest farm systems in the RSHL and one of the largest prospects list.  Always in search of needles in the rough, like Jamie Benn whom we drafted once upon a time in the sixth round.

Kevin: How about the RSHL free agency system?

Robbie: We always participate in free agency as well.  We over spend like everyone else does but we've managed to snag some stars over the years like Joe Pavelski and Daymond Langkow.

Kevin: Reverse arbitration? Are we using it in a realistic fashion? Or does make it too easy for player retention long term?

Robbie: Reverse arbitration needs to go.  Absolute horrible idea.  I would vote this down in a heart beat.

Kevin: Who do you think will be our next RSHL champion?

Robbie: Leni with his fifth Cup to out number all the other Loconte' combined.

Kevin: Who is your favorite player past or present?

Robbie: Mike Vernon past.  Always liked Robert Reichel and German Titov too.  Al MacInnis.  Peter Bondra.  Dave Andreychuk.  Dino Ciccarelli.  Keith Tkachuk.  More recently Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff.  Present Matthew Tkachuk.  What a start with the Panthers.  Still collect hockey cards to this day, but I have so much (worthless) cardboard from the 90s downstairs from when the hobby was booming the first time.  Ever been to a card shop lately to see the prices? Yikes.

Kevin: Name two things about the RSHL that you love?

Robbie: Really appreciate the extra time the analysts but into their articles.  Lots of amazing content from Hrudey, Wheeler, Bieksa and the odd time Burkie.  Love that I have met a Brother from another mother through the RSHL.  Thankful Brett accepted my application to join many years ago now.

Kevin: Name two things about the RSHL you would change if you could?

Robbie: I would love to see more participation in the forums, rumours, Slack convo from over half the league.  Seems like its always the same 10 people involved.  I would love to see a live RSHL draft.  Pick a date, pick a time, show up.  I think it would peak some trade interest and maybe get some rivalries heated up again.

Kevin: Any out of the box ideas that you have that you believe would help benefit the league as a whole?

Robbie: Make money worth something?  Sports Betting?  Expansion?  A schedule that more closely matches the NHL schedule versus what the simulator gives us now.  All throw in a few bucks a year to get a trophy that makes its way to the winner every year? 

Kevin: Any shouts outs to the league?

Robbie: Time wise and dollar wise I do not think you all understand what Brett has invested into this.  He was so much data saved, and so many features built that no other league has (and many try to copy).  He's also spending his own money on hosting fees, hardware, etc to keep it all going.  I think we need to consider all tossing in a few bucks to help out every season.

Kevin: Ok thank you Robbie for taking the time to speak to us today. It's really appreciated.

There you have it folks, the GM of the Hartford Whalers, Robbie Morton. Ok I must say it was a blast doing these. I hope you enjoyed the interviews as much as I did.

By the way I'm taking the Canucks in 6! So until the next time, be good or you'll be joining me in the box for Five For Fighting.

Kevin Bieksa