Welcome once again to 32 Thoughts, the podcast presented by GMC and the new Sierra AT4X

Elliott, plenty to get to today, including the National Hockey League Players Association

naming their new executive director, a couple of thoughts on a couple of teams in advance

of trade deadline, but we should start today's program by offering up condolences to the

friends and family of the late Paul Gerard, who passed away at the age of 57.

He would know him from his time in Calgary, in Dallas, in Colorado.

You've had a chance, a couple of different times to speak to him, to be in his presence.

I got a note from Paul's son-in-law, Dylan, saying his two daughters want everyone to

know that he was the goat in their mind, and they say that jokingly because he would have

totally played into the narrative at the house, and he was fun-loving at home, an amazing

dad to both of his daughters, and he wants everyone to know that the support of the

hockey world means the world to the family right now, Elliott.

One of the things Canadian hockey fans might not be as certain of him or know him as well,

even though he was with the flames and they had a moment of silence for him on Thursday

night.

He spent a lot more time in the United States, even though he was born in Winnipeg.

He coached in the NCAA there for Omaha, he was with the Texas Stars, and Utica, so

I think American fans might be a bit more familiar with him.

I interviewed him a couple of years ago, and he talked about networking.

And his quote to me was, you need that willingness to network to get to know people.

I would never be afraid to go up and introduce myself, start small talk with someone, let

them know I was around.

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