The DFO Rundown Podcast w/ Frank Seravalli & Jason Gregor
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp!
The Buffalo Sabres have a four-game winning streak, a new GM, and now sit five points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. Rupper thinks a playoff push would be detrimental in Buffalo, while Gregor believes they have some good pieces and are better than their record suggests. Do they go the San Jose route and rebuild, or the Nashville route and re-tool with veterans? Can Jarmo Kekäläinen change the culture in Buffalo and get the Sabres back into the playoffs soon?
Sitting third in points behind Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, has Macklin Celebrini punched his ticket to Team Canada? He currently has San Jose in a playoff spot, and the guys believe he would be the Hart Trophy winner if the Sharks make the postseason this year. Can the second-year forward beat out the likes of McDavid and MacKinnon for the award?
John Klingberg is enjoying a career resurgence with the Sharks this season. His mobility looks closer to his prime years, and his offensive game is starting to shine alongside San Jose’s young core. A physical and mental reset has allowed Klingberg to flash the star form he once showed in Dallas.
Connor McDavid’s hot streak is in full steam ahead. The Oilers captain has 14 points in his last five games, and any rumblings that McDavid had fallen off have quickly faded. Once again, he’s proving he’s arguably the best player in the world.
Rupper recounts his time in Pittsburgh, where Sidney Crosby was constantly striving to improve—even after winning the Stanley Cup. Taking more faceoffs, improving defensively, shooting more, and doing anything possible to become a more complete, big-moment player.
Nathan MacKinnon continues his shooting barrage as he leads the league in shots on goal. McDavid has seen an uptick in shooting during his hot streak, and Celebrini is climbing the list as well. The guys examine some of the league’s top volume shooters and a few surprise leaders in shooting percentage, including one of the biggest up-and-comers in the scoring race, Morgan Geekie.
Edmonton’s offense is starting to roll as they head into the Christmas break, with no more road games against Eastern Conference teams remaining. With Tristan Jarry injured, is there renewed concern in the Oilers’ crease, and what will they do if he’s out long-term?
Pat joins the show for Fill in the Blank:
Olympic roster predictions are in from Rupper and Gregor, starting with Rupp’s Team USA selections. Cole Caufield is out, while Brock Nelson makes the roster up front. Despite his season in Anaheim, Cutter Gauthier was never in consideration for Rupp. There are no changes on defense, and while Seth Jones was strongly considered, Rupp couldn’t find a spot for him.
With Connor Bedard injured, Gregor slots Brandon Hagel in as his replacement. Would Bo Horvat be on the roster if he weren’t injured? Evan Bouchard’s improved defensive play earns him a spot, while Thomas Harley drops off as he continues to struggle after returning from injury in Dallas. Jordan Binnington remains on Gregor’s roster based on merit and his Four Nations performance—but could his poor NHL play push him off the team by February?
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek!
The Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild kicked off the weekend with a blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes. Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, and a first-round pick went to the Canucks. A great return for the Canucks, but how will Buium develop and can Vancouver hit on the first-round pick? Can the Wild resign Quinn Hughes?
With the addition of Hughes, the already top-heavy Central Division just got a lot more lethal. Who's going to finish atop the division and are their more moves to come? The guys discuss if Dallas with the Seguin cap space, could make a big move to counter the Hughes trade.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had a rough weekend blowing two multi-goal leads late in games to fall in overtime against the Mammoth and Sharks. With Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak's visa issues sorted out, how do the pieces from the Jarry trade slot in on this Penguins team looking to stay in the playoff race in the Metro?
Connor Bedard suffered an upper-body injury late in the Blackhawks game against the St. Louis Blues. Marek compares it to the Josh Norris injury and the guys discuss if this injury could deter Canada from bringing the young forward to Milan.
Matt Barzal of the New York Islanders is in a similar spot as an injury this weekend could see him out for some time right before the Olympic roster announcement. Barzal has had a great season on a surging Isles team, and the center was looking to see his name called for a spot in Milan. Will this injury cause Team Canada management to go another direction?
The wildcard races in both conferences continue to be a logjam of teams who can't separate themselves to take full control of their situations. With multiple teams hovering around the playoffs, which teams currently in spots will lose out to teams on the outside looking in?
The San Jose Sharks look to be ahead of their timeline, currently holding onto a playoff spot but can the young core keep the momentum going to play meaningful games down the stretch or is it too early for the Sharks to be in playoff contention?
Pat joins the show for another edition of Buy or Sell:
The guys end the show with some non-hockey related content following the death of acclaimed film director Rob Reiner.
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp!
We start the show with breaking news out of Edmonton as they addressed their goaltending acquiring Tristan Jarry. The move was shocking as they gave up Stuart Skinner, a second, and Brett Kulak. Can Jarry solidify the Oilers crease?
The New Jersey Devils have slid down the Eastern Conference standings since the Jack Hughes injury. Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom have had major issues in goal after Allen started hot this year. A discussion of if the Devils could win the Metro, has now turned into a discussion on if they can make the playoffs.
Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes have struggled behind a defensive unit that is still going through growing pains. Jacob Fowler looked spectacular in his NHL debut stopping 36 of 38 shots in a 4-2 win. Can Fowler take the reigns of the Canadiens' crease?
The Winnipeg Jets have struggled without Connor Hellebuyck and in the ultra-competitive Central Division, have the Jets slid out of the playoff picture in the West or can they claw back into a wildcard spot?
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Logan Cooley will be out for at least eight weeks, and the Utah Mammoth might be at risk of missing the playoffs again after a soaring start. Is Andre Tourigny on the hot seat or will the Mammoth make a trade to shake up the room?
Bo Horvat had a scary fall in the Islanders game and early rumours say he'll only be out short-term. Will Horvat be in contention for a spot on Team Canada if healthy and can the Islanders keep rolling if their star forward is out long-term?
Injuries have plagued the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, but they're still atop the Atlantic Division. Brayden Point has had a down year so far in Tampa, but could a hot stretch be on the horizon for the Lightning center?
Brandon Bussi has been a great story for the Carolina Hurricanes as he is 10-1-0 in his 11 starts. Picked up off of waivers, Bussi proves the goaltending position's volatility and unpredictably. Will Bussi be the answer for the Hurricanes' postseason goalie struggles?
Connor McDavid was on a "slump" but over his last four games he's kicked it into high gear. The Art Ross race between McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon is now heating up. The line shake-up in Edmonton has sparked the Oilers captain's offensive fire.
Pat joins the show for another edition of Fill in the Blank:
Mid-season goalie trades are not common, but how will the Skinner/Jarry trade play out for both teams? Gregor believes the Oilers are still in the market for another goalie before the deadline. Will Skinner resign in Pittsburgh for less than Jarry was making?
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek!
Logan Thompson continues to pull ahead for Canada’s Olympic starting job after a 39-save shutout against Jet Greaves. Trouba’s hit on Ryan Leonard sparks debate, with both hosts calling it clean, and they break down Tom Wilson’s response.
They discuss whether the NHL should schedule more two-game city stops after Chicago’s back-to-back in L.A. Phillip Danault’s offensive dip raises questions about his trade-deadline value, while Tyler Seguin’s season-ending injury could push Dallas into a big deadline move.
The Sabres sit at the bottom of the East again—what’s next?
Pat joins for Buy or Sell: Avs or Stars for the Cup Final, Penguins or Flyers for the playoffs, and Crosby chasing the age-38 scoring record.
The show also touches on changes to the Foster Hewitt Award, Ottawa’s slide, Calgary heating up before a possible fire sale, and whether Shane Wright can find his footing as Seattle cools off.
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp!
Rupp and Gregor start the show off by talking about the competitive nature of the West and the parity of teams in the East.
The Florida Panthers are now 7 points out of the playoffs with a demoralizing loss to the Nashville Predators last night. Lots of key injuries but will the return of Matthew Tkachuk be enough if they end up 10+ points out of a playoff spot come January. Sergei Bobrovsky has struggled for the Panthers this season and in a contract year, what's the future like for the Russian goaltender?
Next, it's the Stanley Cup finalists in the West, Edmonton. A rough start to the year but a massive win over Seattle sees them pushing towards relevance in the Pacific Division race. The Kraken lack top talent, and the guys dissect Seattle's moves from the expansion draft to present day. Is there a team that needs a top-3 pick more than the Kraken?
Calgary and Nashville have started to drag themselves out of the basement and Vancouver now see themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings. Could the Canucks be the first piece to fall on the trade market and blow it all up?
Pat joins the show for Fill in the Blank with questions like:
Jesper Wallstedt needs to ____ to win the Calder
The Rocket Richard winner will have ____ goals
The ____ will be a surprise team to miss the playoffs in the Eastern Conference
Are Carolina and New Jersey in trouble with their current standing in the Metro?
Rupp and Gregor look into some of the top pests in the NHL. From Brad Marchand to Mason Marchment, who are some of the guys who excel in getting under the skin of their opponents?
Lastly, Rupp recounts some stories from his days in the NHL, some of the pests of his era, and some advice for young players looking to play the role of a pest.
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Irfaan and David are back with Episode 9 of the DFO Rundown Insider Edition. What is going on in Vancouver? From the dragging Kiefer Sherwood situation to rumours around Dale Talon, Vancouver takes centre stage on today's show. The guys also make stops in Seattle and LA before checking in on the Habs and Islander who both could be dipping into the trade market.
Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon.
Reach out to [email protected] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - The Sherwood situation is dragging on longer than expected
06:18 - What are the Kraken trying to do?
09:28 - LA still looking to add scoring
11:26 - Montreal looking for a netminder?
15:16 - NYI looking to replace the injured Palmieri
18:49 - UPL on the move out of Buffalo?
22:08 - Dale Talon taking over in Vancouver? Not so fast...
27:49 - Irf's weekend picks
28:34 - Wrap up
If you liked this, check out:
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek!
Marek opens the show by diving into the Vezina conversation, following up on the debate between Rupp and Gregor about which young goalie could win one first. Marek sides with Rupp, choosing Lukas Dostal — noting that Anaheim appears to be the closest to contention among the young-goalie teams.
In Vegas, Carter Hart has been recalled by the Golden Knights. His numbers in Henderson weren’t impressive, and the rust is still evident, but the guys debate what his impact could be — and how fans and players alike may react to the polarizing goaltender’s return.
The Flyers have been another surprise, backed by strong goaltending from Dan Vladar. Trevor Zegras, meanwhile, has shown real growth since arriving in Philadelphia, and the guys dive into his shootout wizardry and newfound maturity.
St. Louis struggled early with defensive breakdowns and shaky goaltending, sinking them to the bottom of the Central Division. They appear to be stabilizing now — but can they realistically dig their way out of the early-season hole?
The President’s Trophy chase between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sparks a debate about who has the better shot at the Stanley Cup. Gregor leans Stars — and wonders whether Dallas could look at Mason Marchment if Seattle becomes a deadline seller.
The Jets, meanwhile, are 1-4-0 without Connor Hellebuyck, and the Central’s top three are pulling away. Marek stresses Winnipeg’s need for a true second-line center. Can the Jets tread water long enough to stay in the Wild Card race?
With the Leafs’ playoff odds sitting at just 11%, the guys debate whether Toronto can climb back into the race — or if the season is already slipping away.
In Tampa Bay, John Cooper has turned the ship around. The Lightning are back atop the Atlantic Division, with Vasilevskiy, Point, and Kucherov heating up. Gregor and Marek both see Vasy as a major Vezina contender at this point in the season.
Lastly, the Predators could become one of the league’s most intriguing sellers. Which player is their most valuable trade asset? Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Juuse Saros, and Steven Stamkos headline the list of potential deadline chips, and the guys lay out ideal landing spots for a few of them.
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp!
We start the show with a quick recap of Rupper’s Thanksgiving yesterday.
The Vancouver Canucks have opened up their veterans to the trade market. Which players do Gregor and Rupp think are most likely to be moved out of Vancouver? And what will happen with the most polarizing trade piece of all, Quinn Hughes?
The Edmonton Oilers have seen major regression on the defensive end, going from an above-average defensive team to one of the worst in the league at insulating their goalies. What moves can be made to solidify the Oilers’ crease? The guys dive into options like Tristan Jarry and Jordan Binnington.
Gregor asks Rupp which young goaltender in the NHL has the best shot at earning a Vezina nomination—or even a win. Askarov, Dostal, Knight, and Wallstedt are all showing out to start the season. Which of these four would you bet on to get the first Vezina nod?
The Winnipeg Jets are 0-3-0 since losing their Vezina-winning goalie, Connor Hellebuyck. How concerned should Jets fans be?
Pat joins the show for another edition of Fill in the Blanks:
The guys highlight the parity in the league right now and the tight playoff race as we pass the U.S. Thanksgiving mark. Rupp talks about Scott Wedgewood and how team defensive metrics can help goalies achieve better numbers than expected.
Lastly, will the Colorado Avalanche chase down the Bruins’ points record? And if they cruise to the Central Division title, would it affect them come playoff time?
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Irfaan and David are back with Episode 8 of the DFO Rundown Insider Edition. They welcome Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell to the show. He discusses his team's outlook on the year, including the status of pending RFA Adam Fantilli and UFA Boone Jenner. Irf and Dave also break down some craziness out west as Nashville and Vancouver had long time executives make some noise this week.
Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon.
Reach out to [email protected] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Current state of the Blue Jackets
02:52 - League is healthy from a business POV
05:49 - Don Waddell joins the show
18:08 - Patience with Fantilli
19:46 - What is going on with the Preds?
22:07 - Canucks are open for business
32:00 - Irf's weekend picks
32:34 - Wrap up
If you liked this, check out:
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🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401
🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom
🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army
🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner
🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Connect with us on ⬇️
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🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek!
We start the show with Mikko Rantanen, who is under fire after another questionable hit that has landed him a mandatory one-game suspension. Is one game too few for the Stars forward?
Patrick Roy was livid after the Rantanen hit on Alexander Romanov. Should a coach be yelling at an opposing player after a controversial play?
Winnipeg is without their Vezina goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, and the teams behind them in the Central are pouncing on the opportunity to take advantage of a wounded Jets team. How high is the concern level in Winnipeg?
Talking about the Central, the Minnesota Wild are getting sensational goaltending from Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson, with back-to-back shutouts, and an 8-1-1 record in their last ten, which has shot them up to third in the division. The line of Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Marcus Johansson has been stellar on both ends of the ice, prompting Gregor to say they might be the best line in hockey right now.
The Colorado Avalanche are off to an incredible start, with only one regulation loss over their first 22 games. Mackenzie Blackwood is back from injury, and Scott Wedgewood has been exceptional in his absence. The goaltending tandem have back-to-back shutouts for the NHL's top team, but who is the MVP for the Avalanche this year? Marek gives an answer you might not expect.
There have been plenty of surprises this season, and the Boston Bruins have the leading scorer in the NHL. You may not think this is surprising, as David Pastrnak is a top scorer in the league, but what if we told you he was tied with teammate Morgan Geekie!? Geekie has found his footing in his role on the Bruins and is enjoying the best start to a season in his NHL career.
The Buffalo Sabres looked destined for the bottom of the standings again but have won four of their last five and have crept out of the cellar of the Atlantic. Are the Sabres finally putting it together and turning a corner to challenge for a Wildcard spot over a top lottery slot?
On the other hand, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been struggling and now reside in last place in the Eastern Conference. What needs to change in Leaf Land?
Gregor asks if Marek would take Celebrini or Bedard on the Olympic team if he could only take one of the two young stars. If you had to choose, who would you pick?
Lastly, the report from the NHL on the Olympic rink came back, and the dimensions of the ice are not what were expected. The players won't be playing on Olympic- or NHL-sized ice, as the Olympic rink will be smaller than an NHL rink. How will this impact certain roster decisions?
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Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp!
Gregor and Rupp start by looking at the teams struggling in the West and what the Vancouver Canucks should do right now. Will Quinn Hughes be on the move out of Vancouver if struggles continue?
The guys look at superstars who were traded mid-season and the rarity of a high-calibre player being moved at the deadline.
Two teams with slightly surprising starts in the East are starting to fall back down to Earth. Who are you more concerned about — Pittsburgh or Montréal?
JT Miller has come under fire for a lack of effort on a goal against Tuesday versus Vegas. Rupp breaks down the Rangers captain and what might be hampering the forward.
Is the recent stretch by Pittsburgh more reflective of what was expected from this Penguins team? Was their hot start unsustainable? Is Benjamin Kindel the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Alex Ovechkin scored three more goals last night and tied Bobby Hull for the fifth-most hat tricks in NHL history. Ovi is 17 hat tricks behind the Great One, but another record is in sight as he sits eight games away from tying Gretzky for the most multi-goal games. How many goals will the Great Eight finish with in his career?
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin both sit in the top ten in NHL points. Given the success of Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, plus the hot starts from even younger players like Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard, which active player will be next to break major records?
Connor Hellebuyck is undergoing a minor arthroscopic knee procedure that will sideline him for 4–6 weeks. How concerned should the Jets and Team USA be?
Next, Rupp gives his projected Team USA roster. Alex DeBrincat and Jason Robertson join the roster, while Brock Nelson and Clayton Keller drop out from his last projection. Do young players like Spencer Knight and Cutter Gauthier deserve spots on the American roster? Is Kiefer Sherwood a wildcard to make Team USA given his skill set?
Gregor gives his Team Canada roster projections. Young guns Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini join his projected squad as Mark Stone and Seth Jarvis drop out. Jakob Chychrun is the only change on the back end for Gregor, as he replaces Travis Sanheim on the projected roster. Is Scott Wedgewood’s start worthy of a spot as one of the three Canadian goaltenders?
Lastly, the guys discuss the Mikko Rantanen hit on Alexander Romanov in the Stars–Isles game and the reaction from New York’s coach, Patrick Roy.
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