Find out who will win this year's Stanley Cup by listening to this episode. With Dale in Korea, Mike goes solo and reviews both of our brackets. Also, the Coyotes finally give up the ghost and move to Utah.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Wade Redden

News

Arizona moves to Utah

$1.2B  To Ryan Smith - $200M to owners, for relocation

Name - Stormin’ Mormons?

Utah takes over all hockey ops and Meruelo maintains business operations in Arizona in attempt to get arena built and get an expansion franchise

Meruelo has 5 years to get this done or his provision expires

Impact of Marty Walsh to force NHL’s hand? 

Playoffs Preview / Predictions

1. Leafs vs Bruins
2. Islanders vs Hurricanes
3. Lightning vs Panthers
4. Capitals vs Rangers
5. Jets vs Avalanche
6. Canucks vs Predators
7. Stars vs Knights
8. Oilers vs Kings

 

CEO of one of our favourite websites eliteprospects.com Peter Sibner joins us to discuss the lead up to the playoffs and who to watch for.  It was a fun conversation and Peter gave us some great insights.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Players Wayne Merrick and Pierre Mondou

Feedback Arvids - What 2 Latvians to win cup in last 30 years. 

Interview: Peter Sibner - Elite Prospects President ESMG, North America

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week: Rick Nash, Corey Stillman, Justin Braun, Riley Stillman,

This week: What connects Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Keane, Claude Lemieux and Mark Recchi

Playoff Races

West is done - just a matter of whether Oilers play VGK or LAK

Flyers fall out in tight race in East

Hot/Not - 

Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / FLA - Panthers limping in while Lightning ramping up - BOS/TBL will be tough

Metro - NYR 8-2-0 / PHI - 2-5-3

Central - DAL 9-1-0 / WPG  4-5-1 - 

Pacific - LAK 7-3-0 / CGY 2-8-0  - Flames are tough to figure.   Sharks - -136 goal diff   

Worst in history  

74-75 Capitals - -265

93-94 Sens - -196

92-93 Sharks -196

72-73 Isles - -177

75-76 Caps - 170 

Will probably end up around -145  - 73-74 golden Seals area

Crazy Stat

DOPeS - Hartman 3 games for throwing stick on ice after OT loss. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/minnesota-wild-ryan-hartman-suspended-three-games

Interesting in comparison with Guehle 1 gamer 

As the season winds down, players are hitting big milestones. Zack Hyman and Sam Reinhart hit 50G, Matthews hits 60G and McDavid tops 120 pts for 3rd straight year. We look at the playoff races and there is a new edition of Connections for listeners.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Jerry Korab -> Zack Hyman

Korab 83-84 Sabres Dave Andreychuk -> 05-06 Lightning Paul Ranger -> 13-14 Leafs Nazem Kadri -> 2015-16 Leafs Hyman

News

Wild pull goalie in OT again but lose

Milestone watches

McDavid - 95 Assists - going to hit 100

If he stays on pace will get to 110, 4 short of Mario’s best at 114 

Gretzky’s record - 163!

3rd 120pt season in a row. 1st since Gretzky. He did it 13 times in a row - would have had 14 or 15 - thanks Gary Suter

Jonathan Quick - most wins for US goalie - 392 - passed Ryan Miller

Art Ross

MacKinnon 127

Kucherov 126

McDavid 125

Rocket Richard

Matthews - 60G 

Reinhart and Hyman hit 50 

MacKinnon and Pastrnak - 45 

Rookies - 

Bedard 21-35-56  in 59 GP

Marco Rossi MIN - 20 G

Tyson Foerster PHI - 19G 

Goalies

Going to hit 60GP 

Saros 58 GP 

Georgieve 57 GP

Hellebuyck 54 GP

Skinner 53 GP 

Andrew Berkshire on Twitter about Zack Hyman hitting 50

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/analyst-gets-absolutely-roasted-for-insanely-rich-take-on-hyman

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week - Staal, Poddubny, Delvecchio, Fogolin - Solution: All From Thunder Bay 

This Week - Cory Stillman, Justin Braun, Rick Nash, Riley Stillman 

Playoff Picture

Teams Clinched this week:

Boston, Florida, Carolina, New York Rangers, Dallas, Vancouver

Wild Card Races 

Hot/Not

Atlantic TBL 8-1-1 / DET  3-5-2

Metro CAR  8-1-1 / NYI 2-7-1

Central COL 8-1-1 / WPG 3-6-1 

Pacific VGK,EDM 7-2-1 / ANA, SJS 1-8-1 

Crazy Stat

DOPeS 

Guhle - 1 game from slashing from the bench - not a hard slash but a bit surprised they didn’t come down harder on him for this

The NHL GMs met this week and have provided some ideas for rule changes. Zach Hyman is getting close to 50 goals and Connor McDavid could well hit 100 Assists.  We also have a look at the playoff races.   Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

 

 

Title Player Curtis Joseph - 454 Wins 

Feedback 

Trent Buhler - @oldtimetablehockey on Insta - Makes incredible diaoramas of hockey scenes

News

Chris Simon dies by suicide at 52

Marner injury -  Leafs messed this up - why not have it happen before deadline and leave him out until playoffs. High ankle sprain - trouble?

Bettman statement on Chris Simon

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bettman-responds-to-simons-tragic-passing-after-his-family-blame~2888770

Board of Governor’s Meetings

1. LTIR - not on agenda but discussed, Daly asked Exec oommittee to come back if they believe change neededf
2. Rule changes - 
   1. Can’t sit with leg over board for line change
   2. If goalie removed by concussion spotter, spare goalie gets warm up
   3. Coach challenge - can challenge any high stick - before had to be double minor or major
   4. Coach challenge - puck over glass - challenge if deflected - need to get right because if wrong go 2 men down
   5. Reviewed 3 on 3 but are content

Zach Hyman at 48 goals 

McDavid 14 Assists away from 100 with 15 games to go.  Been done 13 times, by 3 players. 

Matthews 5 point game 57 G with 14 to play - prob not going to make 70, what do you think he will hit?

Will teams “load manage” players heading to end of season?

Guess the 5th

Connections - Last week - Johnson, Gelinas, Tardif, Carson - all part of Gretzky trade

Alex Delvecchio, Eric Staal, Walt Poddubny, Lee Fogolin

Playoff races

Washington on fire - could catch Philly - Tortorella healthy scratches Couurier? 

Philly not likely to get caught by Isles or Devils. 

St Louis, Minnesota chasing Nashville, Vegas , LA 

Hot / Not

Atlantic - TBL 7-2-1 / DET 3-7-0 

Metroo - CAR 8-1-1 / PIT 3-6-1 

Central - COL 9-1-0 / CHI 4-6-0 

Pacific - EDM 7-1-2 / SJS 1-8-1 

DOPeS - Tom Wilson attempts decaptiation - 6 games 

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/washington-capitals-forward-tom-wilson-suspended-6-games-for-high-sticking

Is it enough?  

Kulikov 2 games check to head

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/panthers-dmitry-kulikov-suspended-two-games-for-illegal-check-to-head 

Dale and Mike return from sun vacations to breakdown and discuss the big trade deadline deals and then look to the playoff races. Have the Oilers and Leafs done enough? Also, the DOPeS have been busy and we ask - did they create this mess?     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Banter -Vacations

Title Player Charlie Huddy 

News 

1. Trade Deadline 

Biggest Stories

Vegas - Huge haul

1. Tomas Hertl, 2025 3rd, 2027 3rd for David Edstrom, 2025 1st rnd pick  - SJS retains $1.3875
2. Noah Hanifin, - 3 way deal with CGY, PHI - Hanifin cap hit ends at $1.2375 - 
3. Anthony Mantha  from WSH for 2024 2nd, 2026 4th 

Conveniently Mark Stone $9.5MM on LTIR out - will he be back for playoffs?

Friedge says SJS NOW fully rebuilding?????  

Leafs quiet  -Joel Edmundson for 2024 3rd, 2025 5th  $875 retained

Oilers - Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick from Ducks for 2024 1st, 2025 5th, 2025 4th - 3 way with TB to retain salary

Troy Stecher from AZ for 2027 4th 

Solid pick ups 

 

Carolina 

Kuznetsov from Washington for 2025 3rd - Kuz had been in minors 

Guentzel from Pitt for Bunting, 3 AHL players, 2024 2nd, 2024 5th 

Dubas getting picks to do a rebuild 

Sabres / Avalanche - Byram for Middlestadt - was surprised

1. Coyotes Arena - Coyotes to bid on land in North Phoenix - auction starts at 68.5 milliion.  Has to be the last chance. - Auction in 10 weeks
2. Tortorella - gets ejected and initially won’t leave bench Fun full explanation here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdGemIZbA8   2 games and $25,000 fine
3. Crosby moving? - seems to be lots of speculation all of a sudden
4. Wild Pull goalie in OT and win - if they lost, would lose OT point - did you know that? 

 

Guess the 5th 

Connections - previous -Gretzky, Ovechkin, Lemieux, Hull 

Hot / Not  - Full Standings with Current playoff positions 

Atlantic - FLA 8-2-0 / DET 3-7-0

Metro - NYR,CAR 6-3-1 / PIT 3-6-1 

EAST Wildcard  Race 

Central - NSH 8-0-2 / CHI 3-5-2 

Pacific - EDM 7-2-1 / SJS 1-7-2 - Vegas 3-6-1 

West Wildcard

Point of year when bad teams get REALLY bad - but no one is tanking

ANA 3-7-0

SJS 1-7-2

CHI 3-5-2

OTT 3-6-1 

Crazy Stat

DOPeS

Matt Rempe 4 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/rangers-rempe-suspended-four-games-for-elbowing-devils-siegenthaler

 

Parker Kelly 2 games https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/parker-kelly-of-ottawa-senators-suspended-two-games-by-player-safety

 

Pospisil 3 games - https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/flames-martin-pospisil-suspended-three-games-for-boarding

 

Lots of dirty stuff going on - is league clamping down or are players playing on edge because of lack of consistencies

Auston Matthews passes 50 goals and on pace for 75. Are the Vancouver Canucks for real?  We assess it in our Team of the Week segment.     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Derek Sanderson - Connect to Jaromir Jagr

News

Matthews past 50! On pace for 75 - truly remarkable

Jagr sweater retirement - came out for the warmup 

Kekalainen fired - finally - 410-362-97 record in 869

11 years

Jackets 18-28-10 this year - last in Metro, 29th in league

Tilman Fertitta - owner of Houston Rockets is in talks to get an NHL franchise.  

Are Jets in trouble? 

Trade deadline looming - 

Guess the 5th

Connections - What do Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull and Alexander Ovechkin have in common?

Team of the Week - Vancouver Canucks - 

 

82 PTS (1) .683 PTS % (4)

GF% 59.44 (2)  SF% 49.15 (19th) xGF 51.04 (13th) 

SH% 11.69 (1) 

SV% 92.29 (7) 

PDO 1.04 

PP 22.8 (11) 

PK 78.95 (19) 

Points

JT Miller 29 - 50 - 79

E Pettersson 29-45-74

Hughes 12-58-70

Boeser 33-27-60 

Goalies

Demko 44 GP .917  GSAA 17.3 (2) 

DeSmith 17 GP .894 -4.6

 

 Hot / Not

Atlantic FLA, TOR 8-2-0 / MTL 3-6-1 - Florida pouring it on

Metropolitan NYR 9-10 / NYI 3-4-3

Central - MIN 6-3-1 / ARI 0-9-1 

Pacific - LAK 6-3-1 / 4-5-1  A lot of middling performances 

Crazy Stat

DOPes Rielly ended up with 5 games - Leafs appeal, Bettman upholds

 

Dale is away but Mike has a great chat with Al Mitchell from Sports 1440 Radio in Edmonton. We discuss the state of the Oilers, and the Pacific division. Mike tested Al's draft knowledge in Guess the 5th.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

 

Title Player Dan Maloney 

News

Oilers winning streak ends with loss to Vegas - good game, had a playoff feel

Al Mitchell from Edmonton Sports 1440 

Guess the 5th - Who are the 5 players drafted in 2015 with the most NHL Games Played?

Hot / Not 

Atlantic DET 7-2-1 / MTL 4-4-2 - worst team at .500 

Metro CAR 7-3-0 / NJD, WSH, CBJ 3-6-1 

Central DAL 7-2-1 / CHI 2-7-1

Pacific EDM 8-2-0 / SEA 3-6-1 

 

DOPeS - Dillon Jets - 3 games - 

Nikita Zadorov - 2 games for hit on Lucas Raymond 

Rielly - 6 games? Seemed a lot like Perron

Dale and Mike are thrilled to speak with retired NHL linesman Vaughan Rody. He gave us some great stories and fascinating insights into the life of an NHL official. The All Star Game happened this weekend and it wasn't a complete fiasco, so that's a step forward for the league.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Randy Burridge  

News

Trades:

Lindholm to Vancouver

Monahan to Winnipeg

All Star Game - Skills was an improvement - was fun and interesting and they were actually trying

3 Hours? WAAAAY too long - no need for bands 

Does the $1,000,000 prize make it more interesting for fans?

PWHL game was fun - skill is impressive - 

Draft feedback

All Star Skills competition - Steve Mayer - been Chief Content Officer for 7 years and this was most input from player - doesn’t speak well of him imo

3 on 3 main event.... meh

All Star Announcements - NHL Players in Olympics!!

4 nations faceoff - replaces all star next year

World Junior Charges - 

All players officially named - 

Michael McLeod has 2 charges

Dillon Dube

Alex Formenton

Cal Foote

Carter Hart

Vaughan Rody Interview - 20 years - 1228 regular season games / 19 playoff games

https://nhlofficials.com/nhl-officials/current/vaughan-rody/ - Read the bio - had some serious injuries

Connections: 

Guess the 5th 

Mike watched 1967 Habs vs Leafs on Youtube and was fascinated

AT THE ALLSTAR BREAK - 

Playoff picture

East - by P% wildcard teams are TBL / PHI

West - by P% wildcard teams are LAK / STL

ATLANTIC - 1st Bos / Last Ottawa Predictions - Leafs / Canadiens 

METRO  -  1st NYR / Last CBJ Predictions - Rangers / Flyers

CENTRAL - 1st WPG (Pts%) / Last CHI Predictions - Avalanche / Blackhawks - very tight

PACIFIC - 1st VAN / Last SJS Predictions - Oilers / Sharks

Player Stats - 

Kuvherov, MackInnon, Pastrnak, Miller

Goalies - league average save % .899!!

Swayman, Hellebuyck, Daccord, Demko, Ingram, Jarry

Crazy Stat 

DOPeS - Trouba 2 games for elbowing

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/new-york-rangers-defenseman-jacob-trouba-suspended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We welcome back Jeff from Meat and Potatoes: A Flyers Podcast (formerly Broadstreet Bully Podcast) to give us the update on the Flyers season and the Cutter Gauthier situation. The Oilers run the table in January and extend their winning streak to 16 games.    Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player - Blaine Stoughton - 

News

• Is Oiler streak extended to 16. One away from Penguins record of 17 from 92-93. 

World Junior 2018 Team - 5 players are to surrender to police 

London Police will have a press conference on Feb 5. 

Friedman stressed how they were told to be very careful as anyone linking the players publicly before charges laid would likely be sued

• Utah - Ryan Smith requests NHL open expansion process

Arizona supposed to have plan by end of January - coincidence? 

• Borje - not great TV but fun to see the story
• Zach Parise signs with Avalanche after being off all year so far

Connections - Congrats to Cody Trafford for the first correct guess on Last Week's contest

This week: What do Valtteri Filppula, Pavel Datsyuk, Jonathan Toews, and Mats Naslund have in common?

INTERVIEW - JEFF FROM MEAT AND POTATOES: A FLYERS PODCAST 

• Jeff does a guest version of Guess the 5th

What’s the Call? 

Last week discussed Oilers got 2 min penalty and Kraken 5 min and Oilers received 3 min PP. 

Table 15, Rule 19. Example 19. 

Table has 32 examples of who serves what in different penalty situations. 

Proposed Rule changes - no more coincidental penalties? Why not get rid of the rule? 

These charts from Moneypuck.com are pretty cool. https://moneypuck.com/standings.htm

DOPeS - Brendan Gallagher hit - 5 games https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/player-safety/gallagher-suspended-five-games-6345655846112 - 

William Lockwood - 3 games for hit on Fleury - https://scoutingtherefs.com/2024/01/43464/panthers-lockwood-suspended-for-goaltender-interference-on-wilds-fleury/

Listened to Agent Provocateur episode about a DOPeS Hearing. - kept calling them Department of Player Suspensions. Called it a Kangaroo court.

The Oilers have extended their winning streak to 13 games with wins over Toronto, Calgary and Seattle.   Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

 

Title Player Dean McAmmond - Connect to Patrick Roy

Feedback - thanks to those who entered guesses in Hockey Connections - 

NEWS

1. Oilers win streak - 13 games - will it continue? Cbj,chi,Nash

   1. How much credit to Knoblauch, Coffey?

2. Isles fire Lambert, hire Patrick Roy

3. Pinto signs for $775,000, 1 yr

4. Rutherford signs 3 yr extension

5. Matthews with hattrick in win over Calgary - on pace for 71. Leafs needed that win, big performance. After blowing leads in 4 straight, they came back from down 2-0.

6. First look at trade deadline March 8 - Athletic / Daily Faceoff / TSN

   1. Elias Lindholm - CGY - seems to be consensus top player available - 2nd line C - UFA

   2. Trevor Zegras - ANA - unbelievable with hype around him . 2 more years at $5.75. Varying opinions on whether will be moved. Surgery on ankle and should be ready to play at deadline

   3. Chris Tanev - CGY - solid d - UFA at end of year

7. PWHL Update -



GUESS THE FIFTH

 

CONNECTIONS - WInner Last Week - Nora - Brodeur, Roy, Barrasso, Fuhr - all had 45+ assists

THIS WEEK: What do Tony Esposito, Peter Sastny, Ed Belfour and Artemi Panarin have in common?

Weekly Topic

What’s the best city to play in?

via www.gavingroup.ca - hockey wealth specialists

Top 5

Bottom 5 (Ascending from worst)

Notes: 6 Canadian cities in top 10 safety

6 Canadian cities in bottom 8 for climate 

Taxes - based on $5,000,000 salary 

California/NY Teams - $2.5MM

Escrow calulator - enter salary and season 

Crazy Stat - 

Hot / Not

Atlantic DET 7-2-1 / OTT 3-6-1 - Leafs in 3rd by P% but TBL Closing

Metro CAR 8-1-1 / NYI 2-6-2 - Rangers 3-6-1

Central WPG 9-1-0 / CHI 3-7-0

Pacific EDM 10-0-0 / ANA, SJS 2-7-1 -LAK 2-5-3 - falling back after good start - McLellan on hot seat 

DOPeS - Gourde 2 games

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/player-safety/seattle-kraken-yanni-gourde-suspended-two-games

In a wild week in hockey, William Nylander signed an 8 year, $11.5MM contract keeping him in Toronto for the long term. The Oilers continue their hot streak breaking a team record with a 10 game winning streak. What is the best line in the NHL right now? Ever?     Listen Here:  iTunes  Google Play  Stitcher  Direct MP3   iHeart Radio

Title Player Russ Courtnall - 447 Assists

Feedback - Arvids from Latvia 

Pat from Detroit 

News 

1. Nylander signs for $11.5/season - 13.7% of cap

Comparables - McDavid 16.7% (when signed)

Auston Matthews - 15.87% 

Nathan MacKinnon - 15.27%

Big Extensions coming - how does Nylander affect- 

Sam Reinhart ($6.5MM)- UFA at end of season

Elias Petterson ($7.35MM)- RFA at end of season

Leon Draisaitl - ($8.5) 1 more year - can sign July 1 

 

2. Cutter Gauthier traded for Jamie Drysdale 

What happened? -

- was all in to be drafted by Flyers july 2022

- Totorella already coach

-March 2023, Fletcher fired, Briere hired

- after season ended (basically same time) Gauthier wanted to finish season with Flyers

- shortly after, said he didn’t want to be a Flyer

 

3. Borje series- episodes 1 & 2 review

 

4. PWHL - Minnesota leads the league 3-0 - seem to be the team to beat

Montreal - 2-1

Ottawa 1-0 

5. Rumours - Markstrom to Carolina? pure speculation but makes sense - .910 SV% 

Calgary have some good players and sounds like they will be sellers

Lindholm - UFA

Hanifin - UFA

Tanev -UFA

All Star Sweaters - ugh

6. #81 Linesman - brutal - Ryan Daisy - lined game between Edmonton and Montreal 

7. Double digit points streaks - 14 for McDavid - ties Lemieux. Next is Lafleur 15. Gretzky -31

 

Guess the 5th

 

Listener Quiz? 

 

Best Line in Hockey Now?  Ever? 

via moneypuck.com

Goals For

GF / 60 

GF%

Production Line 1947-52 - Detroit - Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe, Sid Abel - 2 Cups, 3 Art Ross, 1-2-3 in scoring in 1949-50

Nitro line 1967-75 Boston - Phil Esposito, Wayne Cashman, Ken Hodge - 2 Cups, 1-2-4 in scoring in 73-74 (Bobby Orr was 20

Punch Line - 1942-48 Montreal - Elmer Lach, Toe Blake, Maurice Richard - 2 cups, 1-2-3 in scoring in 1944-45

Crazy Stat

Hot / Not

Atlantic FLA 9-1-0 / MTL 3-5-2

Metro CAR 7-1-2 / CBJ 2-4-4

Central WPG, COL 8-1-1 / CHI, MIN 2-7-1 

Pacific EDM 10-0/ SJS 1-9-0  - SEA 9-0-1 

 

DOPeS - heard people saying Cousins leapt into boards to embellish on Zucker hit. Watched again. No chance. 3 games was way too little. Borderline Hunter hitting Turgeon for 20 games. NHL “while Zucker insists this wasn’t retribution”. Why say that - there is no chance it wasn’t.