The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Babcock Bombshell & Pavelski a Possibility. Plus, Larkin's Breaking Point & Starter Speculation for Carolina Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Rumours continue to swirl that Mike Babcock could be the next head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, a surprising development given his recent comments about being retired and the controversy surrounding his exits from Toronto and Columbus. The belief is that key Oilers leaders, including Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, may have supported the idea, with Edmonton seemingly accepting that Bruce Cassidy is no longer a realistic option. In Toronto, Joe Pavelski has emerged as a potential coaching candidate, with comparisons being drawn to Martin St. Louis' successful jump behind the bench in Montreal, although the Leafs would be attempting the experiment from a far different competitive position. Meanwhile, frustration has boiled over in Detroit as Dylan Larkin has reportedly requested a trade, providing a three-team wish list of Florida, Vegas and Minnesota after years of playoff disappointment and another painful late-season collapse. On the ice, the Stanley Cup Final continues to deliver incredible drama, highlighted by Game 3 in which Carolina fell behind 4-0 before mounting a remarkable comeback to force overtime, all while maintaining its composure through the adversity. Mitch Marner stole the spotlight early with a natural hat trick and 10-shot performance that showcased a rarely seen shooter's mentality, though his heroics were ultimately overshadowed by the game's wild momentum swings and Vegas' eventual victory. Plus, who starts in goal for the Canes in a pivotal Game 4?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carolina's Challenge, Knights Golden Confidence, Leafs Searching, Oilers Waiting, Preds Land MacFarland in MegaDeal. Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Carolina finds itself in a near must-win situation in Game 2, as headed to Vegas down 0-2 seems like too big of a hill to climb for any team.D espite neither side being thrilled with its Game 1 performance, Vegas showed why their confidence is at an all-time high, recovering from an early 2-0 deficit and continuing a stretch in which they haven’t lost in two weeks. John Tortorella earned praise for his in-game adjustments, while the Hurricanes’ top line remained largely ineffective. Both Ray and Dregs expect stronger outings from the goaltenders and are leaning toward a Carolina bounce-back, though they agree the margin between the teams remains razor thin. Off the ice, Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy have advanced in Toronto’s coaching search, though the Leafs’ direction remains unclear compared to Edmonton’s more defined approach; Roy’s recent success developing top prospect Peter Schaefer could be a factor with Toronto holding the first overall pick. Meanwhile, the Oilers continue to wait on the coaching market, raising questions about whether Edmonton is willing to hold out for Bruce Cassidy, or if a backup candidate is already in place. In Nashville, the Predators landed a major front-office hire by prying Chris MacFarland away from Colorado with a lucrative deal, giving him the opportunity to build a team backed by ownership willing to spend to improve the team.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malhotra's Mission, Gallagher's Goodbye, Canes Best Version & Vegas' Gamble Pays Off Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

The Vancouver Canucks officially turned the page by hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach, signalling a commitment to a rebuild centred around accumulating young talent and draft picks rather than chasing short-term success. In Montreal, the Canadiens’ season ended at the hands of Carolina, with an emotional Brendan Gallagher acknowledging that he may have played his final game as a Canadien. The hockey world also lost Claude Lemieux, whose family donated his brain to CTE research; Ray reflected on Lemieux as one of the toughest opponents he ever faced — incredibly strong, relentlessly competitive and built for big moments. Looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Final, Carolina appears to be the strongest version of itself in years thanks to key additions like K’Andre Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers, strong goaltending from Frederik Andersen, and the emergence of Taylor Hall as a leader alongside Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. On the other side, the Golden Knights have become a rare success story after hiring John Tortorella with just eight games remaining in the regular season, a gamble that has paid off as Vegas has improved with each playoff round.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hurricanes Suffocate Habs, Bell Centre Blues, Knights Sweep the Avs & Marner's Mission. May 28, 2026

Show notes

Montreal looked completely overmatched in Game 4 as Carolina dominated 43-18 in shots and continued to suffocate the Canadiens with their structured, relentless style. At times, the Hurricanes exposed the inexperience of Montreal’s young core while showing the payoff of eight years of organizational consistency under Rod Brind’Amour. Despite four straight home losses and a noticeably quieter Bell Centre, the playoff run is still providing valuable experience for the Habs’ future. Meanwhile, Vegas stunned Colorado with a sweep, continuing an incredible run under John Tortorella while piling up goals and benefiting from the Avalanche battling injuries and inconsistent performances. Colorado still feels like a contender moving forward, though looming front-office uncertainty, limited cap space and foot-speed concerns may lead to bigger questions about the franchise’s direction in the near future. Mitch Marner’s playoff success after leaving Toronto for Vegas has also become a major storyline, with Leafs fans frustrated watching him thrive in a deeper lineup where he no longer has to carry the team every night.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canes Win in OT, Hutson Owns Up, Avs Banged Up and On the Ropes, Coaching Chatter and more! May 26, 2026

Show notes

Montreal dropped a tough OT decision to Carolina as Andrei Svechnikov scored the winner for a 2-1 series lead, with Lane Hutson publicly taking responsibility for a giveaway that led to the OT goal. Rod Brind’Amour’s team-first mentality continues to define the Hurricanes and Martin St. Louis now faces the challenge of keeping the Canadiens focused on tightening up defensively — particularly clearing the zone and protecting the middle of the ice — rather than dwelling on one play. Out West, Vegas has stunned Colorado with a 3-0 series lead as injuries to Nathan MacKinnon, quiet performances from several Avs stars and stronger goaltending from the Golden Knights have tilted the series heavily. Mark Stone’s impactful return in game 3 arguably overshadowed the hype around Cale Makar’s comeback. Coaching chatter continues as John Tortorella’s future remains uncertain despite a potential championship run, with Ryan Craig viewed as Vegas’ eventual successor. Meanwhile in Colorado there’s growing speculation about sweeping organizational changes if the Avalanche are eliminated as early as tonight.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Game 1 Surprises: Montreal’s Pace Overwhelms Carolina, Makar's Absence Looms Large for Avs. May 22, 2026

Show notes

Montreal stunned Carolina 6–2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, swarming the Hurricanes with four first-period goals and exposing signs of rust after Carolina’s 12-day layoff, as Rod Brind’Amour admitted his team wasn’t ready for the Canadiens’ pace, long stretch passes and relentless transition game. Cole Caufield’s quick response goal after Carolina scored 33 seconds in shifted momentum immediately, as the Canes aggressive play allowed Montreal to repeatedly generate breakaways. Carolina will need a bounce-back in Game 2, especially from Frederik Andersen and a Jacob Slavin, who struggled through a difficult night. Out West, Vegas opened with an upset win over Colorado thanks to a stellar performance from Carter Hart and the massive absence of injured Cale Makar, whose uncertain status now looms over the series. John Tortorella appears energized in his new role with Vegas after recognizing Philadelphia needed a different voice for its rebuild. Discussion then turns to the Maple Leafs’ coaching search, with the suggestion that Toronto should think beyond short-term fixes and consider talented but inexperienced candidates from the AHL and NHL assistant ranks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canucks Clean House, Coaching Carousel Turns, Habs Advance, Hurricanes Rested, Can Vegas Get Healthy? May 19, 2026

Show notes

The Vancouver Canucks cleaned house by firing Adam Foote and the entire coaching staff just days after naming Ryan Johnson GM, continuing a full organizational reset despite the costly decision to eat two years remaining on the coaches’ contracts. Attention now turns to Manny Malhotra as a possible head coach candidate, creating a potentially awkward wrinkle with his son Caleb viewed as a realistic option for Vancouver at third overall in the draft. Elsewhere, the NHL coaching carousel continues in Toronto, Los Angeles and Edmonton, where the Oilers remain interested in Bruce Cassidy while also initiating talks with Craig Berube. Montreal eliminated Buffalo in Game 7 overtime behind strong goaltending from Jakub Dobes, while some of Buffalo’s top players — including Alex Tuch — failed to deliver in key moments and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was questioned for allowing the OT winner by Alex Newhook. Carolina now enters the Eastern Conference Final after a 12-day layoff that could initially create some rust, though the rest should benefit Frederik Andersen most. The Hurricanes’ depth advantage over a tired, short-benched Montreal squad appears to be significant. Out West, Vegas heads into the Western Conference Final against Colorado with injury concerns surrounding Mark Stone, and even if he returns, the Avalanche are viewed by most as the deeper and more complete team.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dobes' Redemption, Marner’s Masterpiece, Coaching Carousel Spins in Edmonton and Toronto May 15, 2026

Show notes

Montreal took a 3–2 series lead over Buffalo, in part, by sticking with Jakub Dobes despite a rough first period and a bad third goal against, a decision by Martin St. Louis and goalie coach Marco Marciano that paid off as Dobes settled in and the Habs rolled to a 6–3 win with offence throughout the lineup. Cole Caufield appears to have found his game, while Buffalo’s stars have been too quiet and the Sabres may need line changes and better discipline heading into a potentially chaotic Game 6 at the Bell Centre. Vegas eliminated Anaheim as Mitch Marner scored what the guys called the goal of the playoffs on an outrageous between-the-legs move, while the Ducks still showed major progress this season despite needing more defensive structure and experience. In Edmonton, the Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch just before his extension was set to begin after reports leaked the team unsuccessfully sought permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy, making the situation feel messy and leaving names like Craig Berube and Peter Laviolette in the mix. Toronto also moved on from Berube as new GM John Chayka appears focused on hiring a younger, more data-driven coach, with Kris Knoblauch, Jay Woodcroft and David Carle among the names discussed. Meanwhile, Vancouver revamped its front office by naming the Sedin twins co-presidents of hockey ops and promoting Ryan Johnson to GM, while questions remain about whether the Canucks can keep Manny Malhotra in the organization amid growing interest in him as a head coach elsewhere.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Habs Roll at Home, Canes Sweep, Flyers Looking Forward & Ducks Draw Even May 11, 2026

Show notes

The Montreal Canadiens responded after an early Buffalo goal in Game 3, dominating much of the night with their speed and depth as Alex Newhook scored twice and the Habs’ centres continued to outplay the Sabres down the middle. Buffalo struggled defensively, Alex Lyon was repeatedly left exposed, and tensions boiled over following a collision between Beck Malenstyn and goalie Jakob Dobes that sparked a discussion about whether post-whistle penalties should carry over into the next playoff game. Meanwhile, Carolina completed a sweep of Philadelphia with an OT win in Game 4, continuing a dominant postseason run built on elite team defence, strong health and a resurgence from Taylor Hall, though a lengthy layoff before Round 3 could become a concern. Despite the sweep, the Flyers took a major step forward this season under Rick Tocchet, though more roster additions are still needed before relying heavily on young prospects like Porter Martone and Alex Bump. Out West, Anaheim evened its series with Vegas at 2-2 after a 4-3 win powered by Cutter Gauthier’s three assists, continuing an impressive playoff showing from a young Ducks team that is quickly learning it can compete and win at this level. Mitch Marner’s three-point night gave him the playoff scoring lead and his overall play has prompted praise from John Tortorella regarding lingering Toronto narratives around his game. The Wild also pushed back against Colorado with a huge Game 3 win to keep their series alive, setting up a critical Game 4 as Colorado considers whether to stick with Scott Wedgewood or turn to Mackenzie Blackwood after an uneven outing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leafs Lottery Jackpot Muddles Matthews Situation: Canes & Avs Rolling, Habs Adjustments, Ducks Fly Home May 08, 2026

Show notes

The Toronto Maple Leafs shocked the hockey world by winning the NHL Draft Lottery despite fairly long odds, leaving fans in Vancouver and Calgary frustrated as another Canadian team leapfrogged them to secure the top pick. This development may put added focus on Auston Matthews and his future as newly minted GM John Chayka now has even more to consider in an already busy offseason. In the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens prepare for Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabres after a shaky opener where Lane Hutson struggled early, but Ivan Demidov impressed and Zach Benson continued to be a major agitator for Buffalo. Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes moved within one win of eliminating the Philadelphia Flyers thanks to a dominant, aggressive PK and another strong outing from Frederik Andersen. Out West, the Anaheim Ducks earned a road split against the Vegas Golden Knights with their speed becoming a major factor heading home for Game 3, while the Colorado Avalanche stayed unbeaten with a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Wild as Nathan MacKinnon appears to be taking over the series after back-to-back three-point performances.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected