Mike Johnson joins the show to help preview the upcoming Stanley Cup Final, and discuss how the Lightning and Canadiens match up against each other. Topics include: Carey Price vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov vs. Montreal's defense How Canadiens shut down Golden Knights forwards Phillip Danault's work in the matchup game The battle for premium real estate that we'll see Lightning power play vs. Canadiens penalty kill All of the different types of games Tampa Bay can play...
Jun 27, 2021•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chad DeDominicis joins the show to discuss where things went wrong for Jack Eichel and the Sabres, the most interesting landing spots for him, and what kind of trade return Buffalo should be looking for. Topics include: Jack Eichel's 6 years in Buffalo How the Sabres failed to build around him properly Why the two parties reached a point of no return Exactly what kind of player is the team trading for him getting The next steps for the Sabres moving forward Organizational baggage when it comes t...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep 367•Transcript available on Metacast Jesse Granger joins the show to discuss how the Golden Knights came back from down two games to beat the Avalanche, how Mark Stone was able to slow Nathan MacKinnon down, and all of the stuff that has and hasn't worked for them this postseason. Topics include: Why this felt like such a big upset The adjustments Vegas made after Game 1 What player usage tells us about how coaches really feel The Mark Stone vs. Nathan MacKinnon head to head What Stone does to make him so effective The way their de...
Jun 12, 2021•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew Berkshire joins the show to discuss how the Canadiens beat the Jets, how the Lightning beat the Hurricanes, and round two of the NHL postseason. Topics include: Enjoying the playoffs vs. trying to learn from them Individual talent vs. team structure when it comes to defending How Montreal dominated Winnipeg at 5-on-5 Paul Maurice talking about analytics Lineup balance and depth in this year's heavy schedule Cole Caufield's early playmaking before the goals have come Trying to match up aga...
Jun 11, 2021•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jack Fraser joins the show to discuss what we learned in the opening round of the postseason, and help preview the upcoming second round matchups. Topics include: Lightning vs. Hurricanes How Kucherov and Hedman looked at 5-on-5 Tampa Bay's power play vs. Carolina's penalty kill Nedeljkovic trying to keep up with Vasilevskiy Golden Knights vs. Avalanche Vegas turning expected goals into actual goals Whether Colorado can keep up their shot shares Mark Stone vs. Nathan MacKinnon Islanders vs. Brui...
May 29, 2021•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jack Han joins the show to discuss the Colorado Avalanche, why they've been steamrolling teams so far this season, and what we can learn from their success. Why we're interested in learning from the Avalanche Adjustments they've made to their playing style Having good players, and getting the most out of them Their improved defensive metrics this season The interplay between defense and offense Aggressively defending the blueline, forcing dump-ins The 'neutral zone regroup' Snowball effect of sh...
May 29, 2021•44 min•Ep 397•Transcript available on Metacast Mike Johnson joins the show to preview the opening round matchups in the North Division. The topics include: Learning from the season series between the Oilers and Jets What the Jets should do to try to slow down Connor McDavid Pros and cons of trying to line match in a playoff series Playing McDavid and Draisaitl together vs. splitting them up Nikolaj Ehlers' importance to the Jets The struggles on the power play for the Leafs Leafs defense vs. Canadiens offense (and vice versa) Why Brendan Gal...
May 16, 2021•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ryan Lambert joins the show to help kick off our playoff previews by deep diving the round one matchups in the East and Central divisions. The topics include: Carolina's nearly flawless statistical resume What the Predators need to do to make a series of it The Hurricanes forecheck vs. Predators skilled defensemen The impact of seeing fans at the rink for a playoff game again Why Lightning vs. Panthers is the most exciting round 1 matchup What to expect from Kucherov, Stamkos, and TB's returning...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast Dom Luszczyszyn joins the show to discuss how we're filling out our awards ballots for the 2020-2021 NHL regular season. The topics include: The last finalist in the Calder voting Kirill Kaprizov vs. Jason Robertson Andrei Vasilevskiy fading down the stretch Juuse Saros' herculean effort getting Nashville in What defense looks like as part of a two-way effort Sasha Barkov's monster season Why Jaccob Slavin has to (finally) win the Lady Byng Separating coaches from their team's PDO All of the str...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Shapiro joins the show to help deep dive the ups and downs this season for the Dallas Stars, the excitement behind Jason Robertson's special rookie year, and the future of NHL broadcasts in the States. Topics include: The battle between Dallas and Nashville for 4th in Central Underlying numbers vs. results for the Stars 1-goal games, and waiting for regression in short season Impact of COVID on player performance this season Contextualizing Anton Khudobin's struggles Roope Hintz's productio...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris Johnston joins the show to discuss the moves we saw made at the NHL trade deadline, the behind the scenes of how they came together, and why teams made the decisions that they ultimately did. Topics include: What the market was actually like for Taylor Hall How much the Bruins improved at the deadline Steve Yzerman accumulating assets How Mantha-for-Vrana came together The Leafs motivation for going after Foligno Why the Oilers and Jets were relatively quiet Huge decisions ahead for the Bl...
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep 392•Transcript available on Metacast Rob Pizzola joins the show to discuss what we can learn from this weird season, how external factors like schedule and officiating can impact team performance, and the NHL's foray into the sports betting world. Topics include: Learning from this weird season What we can glean from matchup data Gap in talent between top teams and the rest Quantifying the effect of fatigue on teams Transparency and accountability for officiating Pros and cons of NHL embracing gambling Broadcasts trying to talk abo...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thomas Drance and Ryan Lambert join the show to help get ready for the upcoming deadline by pitching trades we'd like to see. Topics include: Obstacles standing in the way of meaningful trades this deadline The small list of teams that are true buyers vs. the many sellers The impact players realistically available Trades we'd really like to see Ridiculous three-team trades that'll never happen but are fun The best landing spots for Taylor Hall The Islanders trading for Palmieri (which happened!)...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dom Luszczyszyn joins the show to discuss six big questions we have for the remainder of the season. The topics include: Does anyone have a higher ceiling than the Avalanche? Are the Islanders the team you're most confident in from the East? Can the Panthers or Hurricanes challenge the Lightning? Team(s) we've been most surprised by / wrong about Team(s) we're most disappointed in / had higher hopes for Team(s) to keep an eye on in the second half If you haven't yet, please go take a minute to l...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep 389•Transcript available on Metacast Jack Han joins the show to discuss adjustments the Leafs are trying to make this season to finally get over the hump, getting the most out of your players with your team's tactics, how to use video and analytics together to paint a more complete picture, and a variety of other topics. Other things we talk about in this episode include: Changes Leafs have been trying to implement Neutral zone schemes to get in control of the game Pace, defending leads, tightening screws when needed Actively seeki...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Emily Kaplan and Chris Johnston join the show to help fill out midseason awards ballots. We discuss what we're looking for when making our choices in each category, the best candidates at this point, and storylines to watch for in the second half. Topics include: The Calder Trophy The Norris Trophy The Selke Trophy The Vezina Trophy The Jack Adams The Hart Trophy The best comeback performance The most underrated player The best offseason acquisition The player that's most proven they're legit th...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chad DeDominicis joins the show to discuss the Buffalo Sabres, the cursed start to the season, and what to make of their strange underlying numbers. Topics include: All of the bad luck they've suffered through Their historically bad 5v5 offense How shooting % fluctuations can mess with you Do they have the right system for their personnel? Pros and cons of low event hockey Is Ralph Krueger best suited to be a coach? Victor Olofsson at 5v5 vs. on the power play The mystifying way they've used Jef...
Feb 25, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jesse Marshall joins the show to help deep dive the Pittsburgh Penguins and their eventful start to the season. Topics include: Surviving a bumpy first month Why they're fortunate to be where they are Making sense of a strange underlying shot profile The funk Evgeni Malkin has been in What's wrong with him, and how they can fix him Mixing and matching in the top 6 Bryan Rust proving he's totally legit Jim Rutherford's unplanned exit Importance of coach and front office being on same page Managin...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Harman Dayal and Satiar Shah join the show to discuss where things have went wrong for the Vancouver Canucks this season, how to divvy up the blame for it, and what they need to do to fix it moving forward. Topics include: The bad optics of their offseason Deeper rooted issues dating back years Paying for past mistakes Intentionally rebuilding vs. being bad by accident Having plan and executing it properly GM vs. Owner vs. Coach Front office power struggles Ownership meddling in moves Making big...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alison Lukan and Murat Ates join the show to discuss the blockbuster trade between the Blue Jackets and Jets, how Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine will fit with their new teams, and how they can get the most out of them moving forward. Topics include: The timeline leading up to the trade What the market was actually like for Dubois Why Jarmo Kekalainen made the move Why the Jets were the perfect trade partner How much of PLD's rep as a player is deserved How his passing is a great fit next to ...
Jan 27, 2021•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Arpon Basu joins the show to help discuss the strong start to the season for the Montreal Canadiens, how their playing style and depth has helped them take advantage of a wide open North Division, and what we can learn from their early results. Topics include: Their hot start offensively How much stock to put into early season data The competition in the North Division How they're taking advantage of opportunities How they're creating those opportunities Balancing offense vs. defense, risk vs. r...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep 382•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Russo joins the show to help deep dive Kirill Kaprizov's immediate impact, why the wait appears to have been worth it, and how he's helping the Minnesota Wild change the public perception of their franchise. Topics include: Why Kirill Kaprizov has captured everyone's attention Why the Wild desperately needed a talent like him What he does well, why he can succeed in the NHL What we can learn from his first couple games Wild trying to change public perception of them Goals for this season...
Jan 20, 2021•59 min•Ep 381•Transcript available on Metacast Dom Luszczyszyn and Rob Pizzola join the show to discuss what we can learn from this unique season, the complicating factors to consider when picking winners, and some of the best bets on the board. Topics include: Weird results in shortened seasons The importance of home ice advantage and travel Balancing human element and statistical modeling Range of outcomes in 1st half vs. 2nd half Matchup trends and opponent familiarity Whether defensive teams will have early advantage Betting on bad teams...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep 380•Transcript available on Metacast Andrew Berkshire joins the show to discuss potential breakout candidates for the coming season. Topics include: What we're looking for when identifying potential breakouts Jack Hughes coming back stronger for Year 2 Andrew Mangiapane in Calgary's Top 6 Nick Suzuki building off bubble performance Matt Grzelcyk taking advantage of opportunity Brady Tkachuk's underlying dominance Rasmus Dahlin reminding everyone how good he is Andrew's pick out of left field Kirill Kaprizov's KHL resume Juuse Saros...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep 379•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff Marek joins the show for this year's version of what's become an annual preseason tradition for the show - the Watchability Rankings. We discuss what we're looking forward to watching, and rank all 31 teams based on the entertainment value we think they'll provide in the 2021 season. Topics include: How we put together our lists and tiered teams What we find entertaining and worth watching The bad rebuilding teams already looking to the future The good defensive teams that aren't especially...
Jan 04, 2021•2 hr 36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hailey Salvian joins the show to deep dive the Ottawa Senators rebuild. We discuss the issues that have plagued them in the past, what they've been up to this offseason, and the questions that need to be answered before they really turn things around. Topics include: The fanbase's Melnyk Fatigue Whether they made the most of their offseason The financial motives for their moves Creating environment to help young players transition Brady Tkachuk's next contract The pursuit of a number 1 center Pa...
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris Johnston joins the show to discuss the players, teams, and stories we're most interested in heading into the 2021 season. The topics include: Did Vegas get better after all of their moves? Colorado's new status as favourites Nathan MacKinnon's evolution in the bubble Connor McDavid with a chip on his shoulder The final chapters of Alex Ovechkin's story The unique nature of the Canadian Division Tampa Bay without Kucherov or cap crunch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep 375•Transcript available on Metacast Cam Robinson joins the show to help rewatch the Gold Medal Game from the 2011 World Juniors. We discuss Canada's epic collapse, Russia's thrilling comeback, everything that played into it, and what we've learned from it ten years later. Topics include: The legacy of this game What aged the best What aged the worst The TSN turning point The biggest heat check performance The questions that still remain unanswered The pros and cons of the broadcast Who won the game Learn more about your ad choices...
Dec 22, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Corey Masisak joins the show to deep dive the New Jersey Devils rebuild. We discuss where things went wrong last season, the questions that need to be answered, and how they can fix things moving forward. Topics include: Where things went wrong in 2019 for the Devils Why winning the offseason didn't translate into actual wins How invested the organization is in analytics The pros and cons of Lindy Ruff as a coach How legit Mackenzie Blackwood's second half tear was What Jack Hughes will look lik...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sheng Peng joins the show to discuss why the San Jose Sharks suddenly find themselves in uncharted waters, what caused their nightmarish 2019-20 season and where the issues started, plus how they can ultimately get things back on track to prevent this from becoming the new normal for the organization. Topics include: 2:00 The price of being good for a long time 12:00 Death by 1000 cuts in summer of 2019 20:00 How they can fix things heading into next season 26:00 Separating goalie performance fr...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
