The Big Show

Latest Episodes:

Stanley Cup Final Preview With Bruce Boudreau Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player and coach Bruce Boudreau providing some unique insight.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Katie Gaus and Bruce Boudreau discussed in this episode:

1:10: What are the Florida Panthers' greatest strengths?

5:08: What are the Edmonton Oilers' greatest strengths?

10:22: What areas of the Panthers’ game could be considered a weakness? Is there a particular area of Florida's game that Edmonton should focus on exploiting?

14:42: What matchups should Florida look at to attempt to control the Oilers' star players?

20:09: Is there any advantage the Oilers might have gained from last year's Game 7 Stanley Cup final loss?

26:19: Predicting the Stanley Cup final and how many games it will take

29:24: We saw what happened in Dallas with Peter DeBoer's goalie pull decision. How much coaching comes into play throughout a series?

34:41: Adam Foote is a first-time NHL coach in Vancouver. What are the challenges of going from being an assistant or associate coach to a head coach?

39:00: Where will Mitch Marner end up?

40:28: As a coach, what superstition did you have?

43:40: Why did Bruce Boudreau volunteer to serve minor penalties with the Maple Leafs as a player?

44:39: Boudreau was a part of the “Plumber Line” on the Maple Leafs. Where does that rank among favorite line names ever?

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Are The Florida Panthers Becoming A Dynasty? Plus Oilers, Stars, Leafs Talk May 29, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

1:38: Are the Florida Panthers a dynasty team?

3:44: Is this Panthers squad more impressive than the Tampa Bay Lightning team that went to three straight Cup finals?

4:52: If you’re one of the 31 other NHL teams, what are you taking away from Florida? Will we see other teams getting bigger and heavier?

7:10: How should Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky move on from losing in the Eastern Conference final again? Was this year a success or failure?

9:48: How big of a loss is it to Edmonton to be without Zach Hyman? Who will take Hyman’s minutes?

12:58: Do the Stars need more from Mikko Rantanen in these do-or-die games?

15:44: What would a 100-percent healthy Matthew Tkachuk look like?

18:00: If you were Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, what moves would you make this summer?

20:21: Whose futures are in doubt in Toronto's Core Four?

23:46: Is it a good or bad thing that Craig Berube will have more to do with the decision-making on the Leafs?

28:18: Are the Stars too loyal to Jamie Benn? Should they re-sign him?

29:47: What is Mathieu Darche's biggest challenge as New York Islanders GM?

32:15: How do players stay healthy and energized as they go further into the playoffs? What’s the balance of practice versus rest?

35:09: What kind of team bonding activities are there during the playoffs?

38:22: Predicting the Memorial Cup semifinal and final

40:40: Mitch Marner or Sam Bennett: who should be the main target in free agency?

41:34: Have Corey Perry and Brad Marchand changed how we should view veteran free agents?

43:09: Paul Maurice told Brind'Amour and Berube that coaches don't belong in the handshake line. Agree or disagree?

44:34: The Panthers didn't touch the Prince of Wales Trophy (again). Are you superstitious? Craziest superstition?

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Which Conference Finalist Is Under The Most Pressure To Win This Year? May 22, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

1:03: What do we think about Brendan Shanahan finding a potential new job so quickly?

2:57: Can the Shanaplan work for the New York Islanders if he leaves Toronto?

3:47: How much blame does Shanahan deserve for what happened in Toronto?

4:36: Who is truly to blame for the Maple Leafs’ lack of success: GMs, coaches, players or Shanahan?

6:15: How do you handle the off-season if you are Leafs GM Brad Treliving?

11:53 How likely is it for the Winnipeg Jets to get Nikolaj Ehlers signed in the off-season?

12:54: Is Brock Boeser a must-get guy in free agency, and where will he end up?

14:36: Will some of the big pending free agents switch teams?

17:48: If you are the Edmonton Oilers, how do you look at the Game 1 implosion, and will this haunt them in what will be a long series?

18:55: Did Matt Duchene embellish a high-sticking penalty?

22:10: Is Stuart Skinner good enough to contend with the Stars' offense?

24:19: How do the Carolina Hurricanes bounce back after a Game 1 loss?

27:34: Does Logan Stankoven need to step up for Carolina, and does Matthew Tkachuk need to show up for Florida?

28:35: Which of the four teams left in the playoffs has the most pressure to win a Cup this year?

31:12 How important is it for Porter Martone joining Team Canada at the World Championship for his development? Does it increase his draft stock?

33:21: Is Frank Nazar putting himself on the map with his play at the Worlds? How excited should Blackhawks fans be?

35:06 How important is it for Macklin Celebrini to be playing with Sidney Crosby, and does he sneak his way onto the Olympic roster?

37:19: Will Jake Oettinger be the starting goalie for the U.S. in the 2026 Olympics?

38:30: We've only really seen one true fight in the playoffs this far. Are we missing this aspect from the playoffs this year?

40:29: The Boston Bruins officially get a first-rounder in the Brad Marchand trade now that Florida is in the conference final. Was the deal worth it for Boston now?

42:16: What's the best food city left in the playoffs?

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Is The Maple Leafs' Core Four On Its Last Legs – Again? May 15, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond with former NHL player Drew Shore providing some unique insight.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Shore discussed in this episode:

1:03: After the Florida Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5, how do the Leafs go about forcing a Game 7?

3:15: How do you block out a booing home crowd as a player?

4:44: If the Maple Leafs lose this series, does something drastic have to happen to the Core Four?

7:51: Would you make any changes to the Leafs' lineup in Game 6?

8:16: As a player, do you know when a series is all but over?

9:43: Is this Panthers team better than last year's Cup-winning squad?

11:47: How important is it for the Edmonton Oilers to have scoring depth and not rely on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for all offense?

14:02: Should a team in win-now mode use more third- and fourth-round draft picks in trades?

16:34: Is there an alternate universe where the Maple Leafs have Mikko Rantanen?

17:31: Does Andrei Svechnikov still go second overall in the 2018 NHL draft, and how is his play this playoffs?

20:20: Is Carolina's recent play too much for Washington to handle?

21:10: Hypothetically, who wins in the Eastern Conference final between Carolina and Florida?

22:16: Have you ever seen a goalie or skater be so different on the road versus at home, as is the case with Connor Hellebuyck right now?

23:08: How much does Miro Heiskanen impact Dallas' chances of winning the Cup?

24:48: Did the Vancouver Canucks make the right move by hiring Adam Foote?

28:25: Is Rick Tocchet a good fit for the Philadelphia Flyers?

31:17: Agree or disagree: will Jonathan Toews land with an NHL team, and if so, which one?

35:36: Should being a Long Island native influence the Islanders' decision to select James Hagens with the No. 1 pick?

39:07: Evan Bouchard or Matthew Knies, if you are a GM, who do you offer a contract to and why?

41:38: Would you rather have Florida's Finnish players or Dallas’ Finnish Mafia?

42:46: Who's to blame for the Leafs this playoffs: Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner?

43:43: Will a Canadian team win the Cup this year?

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Second-Round Storylines In The NHL Playoffs, Ft. Drew Shore May 08, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond, with help from a special guest.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and ex-NHL player Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

0:55: Does Sunrise, Fla., get enough credit for how good of a city and Florida Panthers home crowd it is to play?

1:31: How important are line matchups between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers going to be now that the series is headed to Florida, where Paul Maurice will have the last change?

3:06: Which line should Florida match up against Auston Matthews or William Nylander's line, as the top line?

6:05: Will the Florida Panthers try to slow play down and win with low-scoring games?

7:06: The Mikko Rantanen Show was on full display again. Have we ever seen one player take over like this before?

9:42: How will the Winnipeg Jets stop Rantanen?

10:26: Is Jim Nill the best GM in the Modern Era?

14:28: The Carolina Hurricanes is up 1-0 against the Washington Capitals, but can you see this series going to six or seven games?

16:14: What is it like being coached by Rod Brind'Amour?

17:30: Is there something about Carolina's style of hockey that doesn’t translate into the playoffs?

18:36: Sebastian Aho has the type of slight build that shouldn't work in the playoffs. What makes him so effective as a competitor?

20:46: Will goaltending be Edmonton's Achilles heel, or is it good enough?

24:15: Alex Pietrangelo and Pavel Dorofeyev of Vegas were absent from practice. How big would these losses be?

27:56: World Championship: which players have the most to gain/lose?

32:27: Why has James Hagens dropped so far in the rankings heading into the NHL draft?

34:47: Joel Quenneville is reportedly joining the Anaheim Ducks. Is he the right coach for this team?

36:55: Kraken/Golden Knights/Mammoth: which recent new team has the best name?

37:35: Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel: Regular seasons aside, who has been the better playoff performer?

39:12: Home teams aren’t performing very well in the second round of the playoffs, so is home-ice advantage real?

40:25: Who is your early Conn Smythe pick? Anyone else besides Rantanen?

41:02: Would the Avalanche have been better off with Rantanen or depth?

42:30: What's your current pump-up song?

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NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More May 01, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to not only discuss the closing stages of the first round but some of the other biggest topics in the NHL.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Katie Gaus discussed in this episode:

0:47: Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is Thursday night. Are the Leafs still "fine," or could they blow another series lead again?

3:30: How much pressure is on the Maple Leafs in Game 6, and do you expect any lineup changes?

6:06: Even if the Maple Leafs do win the series, have they changed your mind about them being a "contender?"

9:30: The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet in the second round. Thoughts on this series?

13:28: In Game 5 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, there was a league review for a kicking motion, which gave Vegas time to watch the goal, and when it was determined there was no kick, Vegas challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. Many online comments suggest that this is ruining hockey. Do you agree?

16:43: Most surprising series so far?

20:11: First-round MVP candidates so far?

22:07: Player that's been the biggest surprise in the first round, for good or bad reasons?

25:19: The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning like crazy, with so many open jobs. Where do we see Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan landing? Could more coaches lose their jobs?

29:15: The NHL’s Hart Trophy finalists are Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov. Thoughts on no Nathan Mackinnon? Who will win it?

33:16: Taylor Hall signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.167 million annually. Do we like it?

34:25: Utah Hockey Club’s YouTube channel briefly showed "@UtahMammoth" as the handle... sounds like this is it? Yay or nay?

36:58: Who do you want to see win the NHL draft lottery? Who actually wins it?

39:59: Patrik Laine enters the final year of his contract next season. Do the Habs re-sign him over the summer?

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Bruce Boudreau Talks NHL Playoffs, Canucks' Hughes And Ovechkin Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

We have a special guest for a special playoff edition of The Hockey News Big Show.

Longtime NHL coach Bruce Boudreau joins Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos to discuss what's going on in the Stanley Cup playoffs, what's happening with the non-playoff squads and some of Boudreau's stories, including his time with the Vancouver Canucks.

Here's what they discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which goaltender should start for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 versus the Los Angeles Kings?

8:14: Has Matthew Knies’ play unlocked a new level of offense for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the power play?

14:58: Have the Washington Capitals proven to be a true Stanley Cup contender?

20:19: With their roster now fully healthy, do the Florida Panthers have the scariest offense in the East?

24:49: Are the Winnipeg Jets proving they don’t need Connor Hellebuyck to play at a top-tier level to be a Stanley Cup contender?

28:36: Breaking down Gabriel Landeskog’s return to the Colorado Avalanche's lineup.

33:50: After signing an extension with the New York Rangers, what should Chris Drury’s off-season plan be?

39:15: Who should take home the Jack Adams Award this year?

41:01: Will Alex Ovechkin retire from hockey before the age of 50?

43:30: Who’s the best goal-scorer that Boudreau ever played with and against?

45:03: Which first-round series is most likely to have an upset?

47:34: Should Jim Rutherford have discussed Quinn Hughes’ contract talks publicly?

49:27: Updated Stanley Cup picks

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Your Guide To The 2025 NHL Playoffs Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series?

3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game?

3:55: What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like?

5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them?

7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line?

8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series

10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals?

13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series

15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel?

17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa?

18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series

21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series

21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup?

24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck?

25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series

26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars?

28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team?

30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out?

32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup?

33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild

34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers?

35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings?

37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series

37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final?

40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring?

41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?

42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run?

43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero?

44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest?

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This Is Canada’s Best Chance At Ending The Stanley Cup Drought In Years Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

3:01: The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are locked in for a first-round matchup. Here’s what to expect and the series prediction.

7:48: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the regular-season champions. Since 1986, only eight of the 37 Presidents' Trophy winners have won the Stanley Cup. Do you believe in the curse?

11:01: What has impressed you most about Winnipeg's season, and more importantly, can they continue it in the playoffs?

13:55: For the first time in NHL history, the Bruins, Penguins and Rangers have all missed the playoffs. Which team will make it back into the playoffs? What moves do they need to make to get there?

17:14: This year's Stanley Cup playoffs could likely feature five of the seven Canadian teams. It would be the first time five Canadian teams have made it since 2017. Is this the year since 1993 we see the Stanley Cup brought back to Canada?

21:08: Which team has a better chance of winning the Cup between Toronto and Winnipeg?

21:59: We've got a few new faces making it into the playoffs this year. Which player who has never been in the playoffs are you most excited to see get their first taste of playoff hockey?

24:12: Which player is a bigger loss for their team heading into the playoffs: Mattias Ekholm for the Oilers or Oliver Bjorkstrand for the Lightning?

28:07: Reports out of Boston indicate that no changes are expected in the Bruins’ front office, so it looks like Don Sweeney and Cam Neely are here to stay. Is this good or bad for Boston? Could we see any other team making changes at the top and firing a GM?

32:19: Ivan Demidov had an impressive NHL debut, with one goal and one assist. Could he be the next Guy Lafleur?

34:52: Logan Couture is not expected to continue his NHL playing career. He played 15 years, all for the San Jose Sharks. Where does he rank among all-time Sharks greats?

36:37: The NHLPA Player Poll was released today – 630 players were asked to name the league's most complete player. Sidney Crosby finished slightly ahead of Aleksander Barkov. Agree or disagree?

39:29: What’s your favorite NHL Stanley Cup playoff tradition?

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What Is Canucks' Brock Boeser's Future? Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

We’re nearly one week away from the NHL playoffs, and The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss some of the biggest topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

1:03: We have our first Stanley Cup playoff series officially locked in. The Carolina Hurricanes will host the New Jersey Devils. What will we see in this series?

3:31: Will the Hurricanes and Devils have high-scoring battles?

4:56: Predicting the winner of the Hurricanes-Devils series

6:30: The Minnesota Wild got Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back from injury. How do their returns change Minnesota’s playoff outlook?

10:13: The Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers are once again almost a lock to battle it out in the first round. This would be the fourth-straight year they meet in Round 1. How could this time be different?

13:00: Steve updates his top eight Stanley Cup contenders list.

14:40: Micheal explains his changes to his Cup contenders list and why.

16:59: How does a team balance resting players and making sure they are ready to go for Game 1 of the playoffs?

19:26: What should we know about Ivan Demidov and his game as he joins the Montreal Canadiens? What kind of boost could this give Montreal?

23:34: Brock Boeser said it’s unlikely he’ll re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks. Where could he end up?

26:20: Should Boeser be worried about looking for a higher salary or getting more trem?

28:10: Which team likely to miss the playoffs this year will take an even bigger step backward next season?

31:00: In their rookie seasons, Connor Bedard had 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games, while Macklin Celebrini has 24 goals and 62 points in 66 games and counting. Who would you take?

33:46: The Philadelphia Flyers have won four of five games since firing John Tortorella. Michkov has eight points in five games, and Foerster has seven points, with both getting more ice time. In hindsight, did the Flyers make the right decision to fire their coach with less than a month left?

36:49: Patrick Roy put in 21-year-old AHL goalie Tristan Lennox with the team down 6-1, then pulled him after allowing a goal on two shots in the 9-2 loss. Did this bother you? Is Roy on thin ice after this move?

40:25: The NCAA national championship game is Saturday. Who is your pick to win between Western Michigan and Boston University?

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