The Big Show

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**The Big Show**

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we’ll have in-depth analysis and lively discussion about everything happening in the NHL. Whether it’s trade rumors, player development or season predictions, it has expert takes and fresh perspectives on every episode.

Latest Episodes:

What Should The Toronto Maple Leafs Do Before The NHL Trade Deadline? Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is back with a new episode one week away from the NHL trade deadline.

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

0:50: Would it be wise for the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign John Tavares before the deadline or should they wait?

4:11: Is Brayden Schenn the best center option for what the Maple Leafs? Can the Leafs pull off that move?

6:30: What prospect would the Maple Leafs least like to part with in a trade?

8:21: Ahead of the deadline, who are some players that would be a good fit for the Winnipeg Jets to add on?

11:35: The Edmonton Oilers have gone 0-4 since the 4 Nations break. Is this just a little slump, or are there cracks in this team? Can these issues be addressed at the deadline?

15:00: What top team is one big trade deadline move away from being flat-out scary in the playoffs?

17:03: The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets face off in the NHL Stadium Series this weekend. Will they make the playoffs?

20:39: Which trade deadline "seller" needs to stock up on picks at the deadline?

23:18: Who is your pick to win the NHL draft lottery?

25:38: How valuable is a first-round pick this year?

28:30: What draft has been the best in recent years?

30:32: The Edmonton Oilers claimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. Yay or nay?

31:08: Would you rather be running the Vancouver Canucks or the Calgary Flames right now?

31:48: Saturday’s Stadium Series game is tracking to have more than 90,000 fans in attendance. Do you think the official number will go over or under?

33:18: Brayden and Luke Schenn became the eighth pair of brothers to each hit the 1,000 NHL games milestone. Name another pair who reached this achievement.

34:57: The Tkachuk brothers went on the Kelce brothers' podcast this week. Should the Tkachuks have their own podcast?

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Will The Hurricanes Avoid Another Guentzel Situation With Rantanen? Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

All focus turns toward the NHL trade deadline, playoff push and more in The Hockey News Big Show.

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

1:16: What did the Carolina Hurricanes learn from the Jake Guentzel situation last year that they're trying to handle better with Mikko Rantanen?

4:58: What teams could be interested in Rantanen if the Hurricanes trade him again?

7:45: Matthew Tkachuk's injury could be a bit longer term, which means the Florida Panthers could put him on LTIR. What are the pros and cons of the Panthers’ options? Who could they acquire if there is LTIR room?

10:35: Matias Maccelli has been a healthy scratch for the Utah Hockey Club, raising speculation that he could be on the trade block. What teams could benefit from adding Maccelli?

12:54: Could it be time for the Boston Bruins to consider trading their captain, Brad Marchand?

17:41: TSN’s Craig Button said Elias Pettersson is “holding the Canucks back.” Do you agree? With his talent ceiling, is he worth taking a chance on despite his current struggles and contract?

21:41: Seth Jones has said he would like a chance to play for a contender. Do the Columbus Blue Jackets count as a contender?

23:21: Should Seth Jones no longer be the Chicago Blackhawks’ alternate captain after expressing interest in playing elsewhere?

24:54: Are the Colorado Avalanche a legitimate Cup contender this year? Can the top line continue to carry the Avalanche?

30:09: Should the Ottawa Senators start to get concerned again about their playoff chances?

33:28: Did NHL commissioner Gary Bettman make the right call to reduce Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman's suspension from 10 games to eight?

34:37: Trevor Zegras was suspended three games for his hit on Michael Rasmussen. Was that the right length?

35:45: Pick a favorite prospect featured in The Hockey News’ newest Future Watch edition.

37:22: Los Angeles is reportedly hosting the decentralized 2025 NHL draft. Where would you like to see the next one?

38:39: What's more surprising: Alex Ovechkin scoring his second hat trick of the season at 39 years old or Matthew Tkachuk being on The Tonight Show?

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4 Nations Face-Off MVPs, Overachievers, Disappointments, Takeaways And More Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

The Hockey News Big Show is back to recap a thrilling finish to the 4 Nations Face-Off as the NHL regular season is about to return.

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

1:02: What are your overall reactions to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game?

4:57: Should the player of the game have gone to Jordan Binnington instead of Connor McDavid?

7:46: Was Auston Matthews' performance in regulation overshadowed by his mistake leaving McDavid open in overtime?

11:07: Who are your MVP's of the 4 Nations?

13:44: Which players were the biggest surprise/overachiever?

16:06: Which players were the biggest disappointments/underachievers?

18:08: Should Kyle Connor have been scratched from the championship game?

19:43: What were the best stories and moments of the 4 Nations Face-Off on or off the ice?

23:53: What kind of impact could we see this having on NHL viewership through the rest of the season, into playoffs and beyond?

27:20: Which NHL team must have the best start coming out of this 4 Nations Face-Off break?

29:40: Will we see another classic Vegas LTIR move to bring in a big name and reactivate Shea Theodore in the first round of the playoffs? If so, who could we see them trying to bring in?

32:35: Who should be the captain at next year's Olympics: Sidney Crosby or McDavid?

33:24: Will Auston Matthews be the captain of Team USA at next year's Olympics?

34:20: Who had the bigger absence: Quinn Hughes or a not-so-healthy Matthew Tkachuk?

35:36:On a scale of one to 10, how much did this 4 Nations tournament increase your excitement for the Olympics?

37:29: Keith Tkachuk said the Ottawa Senators should be buyers at the trade deadline. Name the one thing they need the most.

38:35: We ask again, does Alex Ovechkin pass Gretzky on the NHL’s all-time goals list this season?

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Previewing The 4 Nations Face-Off Final, Plus NHL Award Battles Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

The grand finale of the 4 Nations Face-Off takes place on Thursday, and The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview that and discuss other big NHL topics.

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

0:45: Ryan's thoughts on experiencing the United States and Canada game live in Montreal last Saturday and reactions to the three fights

4:30: What line adjustments and overall improvements did we see from Team Canada to get the victory over Finland?

6:40: How concerned are we with the way Canada ended that game against Finland?

9:39: An update on Team USA's injuries and the status of Quinn Hughes

11:36: Do we expect to see a similar physical strategy from USA against Canada again?

14:17: What did Canada learn from that loss to USA that they'll be looking to apply in the final?

15:31: Summarizing the keys to winning for Canada and the USA in 10 words or fewer.

16:58: Have the performances from Toronto Maple Leafs players in the 4 Nations Face-Off underwhelmed?

18:15: Which Maple Leafs player has more pressure to perform well on Thursday: Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner?

20:11: Who will win the final on Thursday?

21:53: Will anyone catch up to Leon Draisaitl in the NHL's Rocket Richard race?

23:24: Who will win the Norris Trophy battle, or is it too close to call?

25:59: Who looks likeliest to win the Calder Trophy?

29:31: Who's the most underrated NHL player who has quietly made a huge impact but doesn't get talked about as much as they should in 2024-25?

31:40: If you were to replace one player on Team Canada, who would it be, and who would you name as the replacement?

33:34: If Canada beats the USA Thursday, it would be 1-1 with each team winning a game. Should this tournament have allowed for a best-of-three format?

35:21: On a scale of one to 10 (one being least likely, 10 being most likely), what are the chances we will see another tournament like this in the middle of the season aside from the World Cup and Olympics?

38:17: If there is a fight in the 4 Nations final, which two players do you predict will be chucking knucks?

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How Much Will The NHL Standings Change After The 4 Nations? Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

It's the Valentine's Day edition of The Hockey News Big Show featuring the biggest topics in the NHL and the 4 Nations Face-Off.

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

4 Nations Face-Off

1:00: What's the atmosphere at the 4 Nations Face-Off so far?

4:53: Breaking down the Canada and Sweden game

7:09: The Tkachuk brothers have been waiting a long time to finally play together. Is this one of the most entertaining duos we've seen in a while?

9:37: What matchup should Canada consider to try to contain the Tkachuks?

12:13: Who's the biggest surprise of the tournament so far?

NHL Standings Watch

15:10: Will the top three Metropolitan Division teams change?

16:23: What about the Atlantic Division?

18:04: Which teams will earn the two Eastern wild-card spots?

19:36: Will the Central Division leaders change?

20:43: Who wins the Pacific Division?

22:17: Who earns the two wild-card spots in the West?

Love Is In The Air

24:09: Who is the "best couple" of linemates in the NHL?

25:28: What's the worst NHL breakup you remember?

27:36: Which player is most likely to "hook up" with a new team before the NHL trade deadline?

29:18: Which pending UFA wants to "stay single" and test the market this summer?

Rapid Fire

32:10: Canada and the USA face off at the 4 Nations on Saturday. Will there be over or under seven goals total?

33:39: Does Finland get a point in this tournament?

34:50: Should the 4 Nations Face-Off permanently replace the All-Star Game?

36:39: Are Montreal hot dogs better steamed or toasted?

38:49: What's your go-to Valentine's Day gift: flowers or chocolates?

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Breaking Down The 4 Nations Lines, NHL's Art Ross Race And More Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

The newest episode of The Hockey News Big Show is here with more big NHL and hockey topics.

Here's what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest Ken Campbell discussed in this episode:

1:07: Do we like Canada putting Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner on a line for the 4 Nations Face-Off?

4:42: Canada's fourth line of Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Sam Bennett looks like it could cause a whole lot of problems for opponents. Will it?

7:28: What do we think of Team USA's lines? What about splitting up the Tkachuk brothers?

10:00: How does USA's defense look without Quinn Hughes?

12:50: Is Canada’s power-play unit of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar the best line of players in a long time?

15:12: What stands out with Sweden's line combinations?

18:30: What teams could use Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans for a playoff push? What type of return could Montreal get for him?

24:00: Is it too soon to say the Colorado Avalanche might have been spot-on choosing to bet on MacKinnon's ability to "make a very good player great" and moving on from Mikko Rantanen?

28:24: Will MacKinnon beat Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov in the Art Ross Trophy race? Who else could contend?

31:14: Pick one: Favorite line combination for the 4 Nations Face-Off

32:44: What's a bigger loss: Miro Heiskanen for Finland or Hughes for USA?

33:39: What depth player at the 4 Nations will have the biggest impact?

37:52: Which player has the most to gain at the 4 Nations?

37:52: Which player has the most to lose at the 4 Nations?

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4 Nations Face-Off Preview, Red Wings, Battle Of Ontario And More Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

The 4 Nations Face-Off is only days away now, with the tournament beginning on Feb. 12. The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the action and discuss more NHL and hockey topics.

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

4 Nations Face-Off Preview

1:18: The 4 Nations Face-Off has NHL playing rules and a IIHF round-robin points system (three points for regulation win, two points for overtime/shootout win, one point for overtime/shootout loss and no points for a regulation loss). Do we like that setup?

3:27: There's no third-place game, just the championship final. Was this the right call?

5:06: What is each team's biggest strength and its biggest weakness?

11:39: Predicting the championship final and who wins it all

13:20: Which team has the better coaching staff between Canada and the USA?

15:07: Who will be the starter in net for each team?

19:29: Who could be a surprise star of the tournament?

Look Around The NHL And More

21:55: Will there be a Battle of Ontario in the first round of the playoffs? Who would you pick to win it between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators?

24:35: Which team is likelier to get a playoff spot between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers?

26:58: Is there any reason to believe the Winnipeg Jets aren't a top-three favorite to win the Stanley Cup right now?

31:24: Name a player you'd put on the ice if the game was on the line and you needed a clutch shootout goal to win.

32:36: The Athletic released its NHL player poll, which included a question about which coach they'd least want to play for. Which name was the most surprising to see?

35:04: The Jets were the No. 1 answer in that poll for which team would be the first choice on a no-trade list. Could winning the Cup change that?

37:55: Super Bowl prediction: Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles?

38:46: Favorite game day snack

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Are The Vancouver Canucks Done Dealing? What's Next In The Trade Market? Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Dive deep into NHL and hockey topics with The Hockey Big Show.

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

0:40: First thoughts on the J.T. Miller trade

3:45: Is adding Miller enough, or do the New York Rangers still need to make more moves?

6:44: The Vancouver Canucks added Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor. Is that the right move?

10:04: Is Vancouver done? Does that mean center Elias Pettersson will remain a Canuck?

13:49: The Dallas Stars made two additions with Saturday's trade. Are Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci good fits for Dallas?

17:56: Which NHL players are the top targets to watch now?

19:44: Which teams do we expect to join on the action sooner rather than later?

21:43: Which team from the Atlantic Division do you see jumping into the trade mix?

24:07: How will the salary cap increase affect teams' decisions with pending UFAs?

26:16: Which teams could the cap increase affect the most?

29:01: How do Canadian teams navigate the challenges of U.S. dollars versus Canadian?

30:43: Ryan Hartman was suspended for 10 games for his hit on Tim Stutzle. Was 10 games the right amount?

32:04: Utah released the logos, and tons of fans (and even EA Sports themselves) chimed in to say the logos look just like the default 'Create a team' logos in NHL 25. Were they right?

33:57: How many total players who were named to 4 Nations rosters won't end up at the tournament?

36:09: Should Marie-Philip Poulin get suspended for her charge on Sunday?

37:51: Right or Wrong: No reaction from the Buffalo Sabres following the high hit on Tage Thompson?

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Flames And Flyers Trade, Fleury's Perfect Moment, Sharks And More Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

It's time to enjoy the newest episode of The Hockey News Big Show.

Here's what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:

00:32: Thoughts on the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers trade?

6:26: Should the San Jose Sharks move Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci? If so, what teams would be a good fit for each?

10:18: Is Brandt Clarke the right player to leave out of the Kings' lineup with Drew Doughty's return?

15:56: Which Eastern wild-card contenders do you expect to see going for it as buyers make a push to earn a playoff spot?

20:23: Will Marc-Andre Fleury's goalie career be remembered as truly one of the greatest in league history?

25:07: Is everyone happy with the players named as 4 Nations captains?

28:01: Who should replace Miro Heiskanen on Team Finland?

30:43: Utah is down to the final three possible names. Which will win?

32:58: Name an all-time first-goal moment you remember

34:24: Will children watch the NHL's new animated show?

36:20: What's the most obscure hockey rule you know?

38:32: Name a player when you were younger that you would have given "all your money" to keep with your team.

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Analyzing The Rantanen Trade And What's Next In The NHL Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

There's a lot to discuss in the NHL, and The Hockey News Big Show is here to break it down.

Here's what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed:

0:29: What happened between the Colorado Avalanche and pending UFA Mikko Rantanen that led to the blockbuster deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks?

3:58: Did the Avalanche get an underwhelming return? What do they need to do now?

6:45: Is acquiring Rantanen, a potential rental player, worth it for the Hurricanes?

10:16: Will Carolina's style be difficult for Rantanen to adjust to? How about Necas in Colorado?

12:01: Do we believe that Chicago got the best return possible for Taylor Hall?

15:20: Where does this leave the Canucks, and has the market for Miller changed? Is Pettersson the better option to try and move now?

18:36: In light of the Rantanen trade, what would Mitch Marner fetch if he waived his no-movement clause?

22:48: Alex Pietrangelo has withdrawn from the 4 Nations Face-Off to tend to an ailment. Are we going to see more of this? Who should take his place on Team Canada?

28:14: Ryan Kennedy's mid-season draft rankings are out: who should go first, and does it matter which team is picking first?

31:23: Did Ottawa Senators have a fair reaction to owner Michael Andlauer wanting to play some regular-season games in Quebec City and Spartacat wearing a Nordiques-Senators jersey?

34:39: When's the last time the Montreal Canadiens had as good of a rookie as Lane Hutson?

35:40: What do the Florida Panthers need more: a veteran defenseman or a depth winger?

37:01: Did the NHL open the door to Russian participation at the next World Cup of Hockey?

38:44: The Canucks' social media team hit us with the Michael Jordan "I'm Back" statement ahead of Tyler Myers' return from suspension. In light of the Oilers statement, do we like or love this?

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