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Are the Vancouver Canucks Still Defying the Odds? Plus NHL Trade Rumors, Maple Leafs and More Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

It's time for another episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- With rumblings that coach Sheldon Keefe is on the hot seat again, what happens if the Toronto Maple Leafs don't get four or six points from their current three-game road trip?

- Who should fans vote for as the final two players to get into the NHL All-Star skills competition?

- THN's Canucks site editor Adam Kierszenblat joins the show to discuss the team defying the PDO odds, whether Quinn Hughes would've been a better center than defenseman, Thatcher Demko's Vezina Trophy chances and more.

- Will we see more teams make trades after the Flyers and Ducks got things started last week? Who should be available on the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks?

And much more.

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Is the NHL's Calder Trophy Race Back On? Plus Bruins, Flyers and More Jan 13, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- With Connor Bedard injured, is the Calder Trophy race back on, and who could be in the running?

- Trevor Zegras is now out for 6-8 weeks with a broken ankle, but do we still believe the trade rumors?

- John Tortorella loves Jamie Drysdale and some classic Torts comments in the media this week.

- The Boston Bruins are dealing with the injury bug with Florida breathing down their necks. THN's Bruins team site editor Joe Pohoryles breaks down their season so far.

- Will Vancouver's PDO bubble ever burst?

- Who should replace Connor Bedard at All-Star weekend?

And much more.

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Is William Nylander's Contract the New Trend-Setter? Plus: Hot Jets, Rebuilding Sharks and More Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- William Nylander signed an eight-year contract worth $11.5 million per year. Is it too much? Can the Leafs win with this salary structure? What does it mean for the rest of the NHL's stars with contracts ending in the next three seasons?

- After reports that the Philadelphia Flyers were at a crossroads with Cutter Gauthier, they traded him to the Anaheim Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a second-round draft pick in 2025.

- Team USA was golden at the 2024 world juniors in Gothenburg, Sweden. Ryan and Michael reflect on the tournament.

- The Winnipeg Jets are the hottest team in the NHL right now and sit first in the league standings. THN's Jets team site editor Carter Brooks explains what brought them to this point.

- San Jose Sharks broadcaster Randy Hahn stopped by the studio to talk about the squad's tough season in last place, the future ahead with promising prospects and more.

- Should the NHL stop having a representative from each team at the All-Star Weekend?

- Have the hosts liked the PWHL's launch so far? What do they think of the league's "jailbreak" idea where a shorthanded goal ends a penalty kill?

And much more.

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2024 World Juniors Special Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

On a Saturday night just days away from the world juniors, it's The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos. Catch the roster breakdowns for some of the top contenders at the World Junior Championship and more, along with some tournament predictions. In order:

- Can Team Canada win gold for the third straight world juniors?

- Do the Americans have the best goaltending tandem of the tournament on paper? What about their forwards?

- Can Sweden win the world juniors in front of the home fans this year?

- THN prospect writer Tony Ferrari discusses what to expect from the next wave of squads in Finland, Slovakia and Czechia. He also analyzes Norway's Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.

- Finally, the hosts predict the medallists, relegation battlers, MVP, top forward, top defenseman and top goaltender.

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What's Next for the Senators? Can the Avalanche Win It All? And More Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- The Ottawa Senators replaced coach D.J. Smith and assistant coach Davis Payne with interim coach Jacques Martin and assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson. Will the Sens get the coaching bump?

- Did the Minnesota Wild make the right move not playing Marc-Andre Fleury against the Pittsburgh Penguins?

- The Boston Bruins loaned Matthew Poitras to Team Canada for the world juniors. Should Adam Fantilli join him?

- Avalanche team site editor Colleen Flynn joins Michael and Ryan to discuss Nathan MacKinnon's points streak, Cale Makar's chances of winning the Norris Trophy again and whether Colorado has a solid shot at winning the Stanley Cup this season.

- Who are the four best teams in the NHL right now? Who's rising, and who's falling?

- At what point of the season should fans consider their playoff hopes gone?

And much more.

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NHL All-Star Changes, Team Canada, Capitals Talk and More Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the THN Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- The NHL is making a welcomed shift from theatrics to raw talent and skill with changes to this year's All-Star Skills competition.

- With the firing of head coach Craig Berube, what awaits the Blues as they enter the Drew Bannister era?

- Despite losing the team's leading scorer Kyle Connor to a knee injury, the Jets sit atop the Central Division and may be deserving of some respect.

- How good is Canada's team ahead of the World Junior Championship, and will players like Macklin Celebrini be able to leave their mark?

- What's with Alex Ovechkin's goal slump, and are the Washington Capitals still Cup contenders? Sammi Silber of THN's Capitals site joins the show to discuss.

- Who else are contenders or pretenders?

All that and so much more.

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NHL Suspensions Galore, Plus Blackhawks and Islanders Talk Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos, also available to watch on the Game+ Network:

- They react to suspensions to David Perron and Erik Gudbranson.

- Chicago team site editor Matt Carlson discusses Connor Bedard, the team's vibes since terminating Corey Perry's contract, Kevin Korchinski and more.

- Edmonton is red-hot right now, but young defenseman Philip Broberg hasn't developed into the force we were expecting yet. Do the Oilers have a development problem in their organization?

- Owen Beck is the prospect of the week and the only returning player at Team Canada's world juniors camp.

- New York Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner discusses the team's performance so far this season and former Isles captain recording his 1,000th career NHL point against them.

- Is Tavares a Hall of Famer if he retired today? And If you get control of the NHL for a day, what's the first thing you'd do?

All that and so much more.

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Is the Lightning's Cup Window Closed? Plus Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets and More Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- Are the Toronto Maple Leafs OK with Joseph Woll injured?

- Why did the Ottawa Senators hire Jacques Martin as an advisor to D.J. Smith and the coaching staff?

- Why aren't the Columbus Blue Jackets playing their kids?

- In Washington, coach Spencer Carbery's doghouseis filling up fast, with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Sonny Milano seeing time as a healthy scratch.

- Lightning site editor Diandra Loux joins Ryan and Michael to discuss Nikita Kucherov trying to be like Alexander Ovechkin, the bond between Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos, Andrei Vasilevskiy's fart joke during a media scrum, whether the team's done winning championships for the foreseeable future and more.

- After the Los Angeles Kings broke a record for most road wins to start a season, are they a legitimate Cup contender?

- Connor Bedard is on pace for the best season by a rookie in their first season of NHL eligibility since Auston Matthews. Where does he rank among recent No. 1 overall picks?

- Is it a good idea for the NHL all-star player draft to return?

And so much more. The Pre-Game Show also appears on the Game+ Network on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. ET.

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Who Will the NHL Salary Cap Increase Help the Most? Plus Rangers, Flames, Lightning and More Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Pre-Game Show with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos, also available to watch on the Game+ Network:

- The NHL salary cap for next season was rumored to be $87.7 million at the NHL board of governors meetings in Seattle. Who would this help the most?

- Is the party finally over for the Tampa Bay Lightning?

- Patrick Kane awaits his debut with the Detroit Red Wings, but what are the expectations for him?

- Which team do Ryan and Michael have more faith in, the Minnesota Wild or Calgary Flames?

- Jonny Lazarus, the manager of The Hockey News' New York Rangers site, joins Ryan and Michael to discuss how the Rangers have been a buzzsaw so far.

- Zeev Buium is the prospect of the week. The 2024 NHL draft prospect from the University of Denver was just named to Team USA's preliminary world juniors roster.

And so much more!

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Have the Wild and Red Wings Solved Their Problems? Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of The Hockey News Podcast with Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos:

- What's next for the Detroit Red Wings after signing Patrick Kane to a one-year contract?

- The Minnesota Wild replaced coach Dean Evason with John Hynes. Was this the right move?

- How concerned should Canucks fans be as the team started to sputter?

- Are the Los Angeles Kings legitimate Stanley Cup contenders right now?

- The New York Rangers have the best points percentage in the NHL; do we believe in them as contenders?

- Ryan and Michael open up more Upper Deck Series One cards before moving to Rapid Fire and The Best.

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