NHL Fans From Afar – Détails, épisodes et analyse

…that is the question on many NHL players’ minds right now, when it comes to deciding whether to take up their spot on the Olympics rosters of their home countries (if selected of course).

But what would a potential positive COVID result mean for the fans, for their NHL clubs, for their mental health, and for their bank balance?

On this episode of NHL Fans From Afar, Clare & Jolon debate:

Are players selfish if they want to go play in the Olympics?

With more postponements and players entering COVID protocol across America & Canada, is it time for the NHL to bring back the taxi squad?

Vancouver Canucks kick up the arse clearly worked… ! But how? Could they turn it around and still bag a playoff spot?

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. 

Produced by ASFB Productions.

Tweet us @NHLFansFromAfar

If you had to describe what you can and can't do someone in the NHL... I wonder how long it would take to get to saying... "oh yeah, you can't bite an opponent!" Anyway, this week that's exactly what happened and it's on our list of things to talk about.

Montreal have fired their longstanding GM and we look at what's next for a team which were only a few games away from lifting the cup last season.

Some big names have found themselves on the waiver wire and heading to the AHL including a two time Stanley Cup winning goaltender.

Plus as both our hosts teams are currently on winning streaks, there was a bit of Dallas Stars and Maple Leaf chat for good measure too.

Your hosts this week are Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day.

Mark Scheifele takes his kids to work…quite literally. He really did take a couple of goats to the rink for practice…

In the meantime, the rest of the grown ups are already deep in the mud of round one in the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

There’s some big match ups too - it’s crazy to think that Washington Capitals OR Boston Bruins won’t progress to round two! New York Islanders are already giving Pittsburgh Penguins a run for their money, and surprise wild card Minnesota Wild beat Las Vegas Golden Knights in game one? More than half of games played so far have finished in overtime…

As Clare gets set for her first vaccine the same night that Toronto Maple Leafs enter the playoffs, she admits she’s not sure which she’s dreading more…Plus as Latvia prepares to host Team GB Ice Hockey team and friends from this Friday, Jolon continues to reminisce about his trip to the IIHF World Championships in 2019.

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. Produced by ASFB Productions. 

Dallas Stars fan Matt isn’t a happy bunny but hey congratulations Nashville Predators...#awks

So the Stanley Cup Playoff berths have been set… Woo. But when will round one start?!

It was a busy week - head coaches John Tortorella and Rick Tocchet as well as NYR's GM AND their president all said bye bye...

Connor McDavid bagged 100 points AND there was a mass brawl in New York.

Plus, where next for Jack Eichel, and what connects Toronto Maple Leaf GM Kyle Dubas with Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola?

Presented by Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day. Produced by ASFB Productions.

On the menu today: Breaking news - We react to the headlines that Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson has been fined AGAIN. But will it really make a difference? Jolon compares the $5k fine as “just another parking ticket”…

It’s the final dash to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for Nashville Predators vs Dallas Stars and St Louis Blues vs Arizona Coyotes. 

Plus, why are the Winnipeg Jets tanking?

There’s heartbreak for New York Rangers who gift New York Islanders their playoff berth AND the pleasure of a shutout.

Connor McDavid is in the playoffs! Hurrah! Edmonton Oilers fans are finally feeling optimistic. 

We’ve respect for Ryan Miller who hangs up his skates as a goalie playing 18 seasons in the NHL.

Carolina Hurricanes contracts on hold until all backroom staff are secure too, or so says their head coach Rod Brind’Amour.

Plus a few thoughts on the cancellation of the Women’s World Hockey Championships, as Hilary Knight says the last minute move was yet "another reminder that women's hockey continues to be treated as an afterthought."

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Pic - Tom Wilson flexing in the penalty box, during ‘that’ game against New York Rangers.

Some geekery over the individual NHL trophy awards - Clare couldn’t give two hoots about following who’s in the running or not, Jolon tries to convince her why they can be interesting! From the Calder, to the Norris, to the Vezina - the NHL Fans From Afar team look through the list of former winners, where they got their names from and who’s in with a shot this season. And yes, there really is an award for being the most gentlemanly…

We recap on where the land lies for Stanley Cup Playoff berths, with continued races in several of the divisions for those 4th spots.

Plus, what does the Turner Sports and EPSN deals mean for us watching NHL outside North America? Will the ESPN+ app go global? Or will it mean we have to pay more money for more separate subscriptions in the long term…?

Presented by Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Who's in and who's out? Playoff predictions are back...and we look closer at the super tight races for fourth place the West and Central divisions.

Will Arizona Coyotes tip St Louis Blues? Will Nashville Predators take out a battered and bruised Dallas Stars team?

Over in the East, the seedings are all to play for between Washington Capitals, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. But who will take the fourth spot - Boston Bruins or New York Rangers?

And in the North, could this weekend's three game series between Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames be a key decider in whether the Habs can hold on to fourth in the division a little longer?

Also, a new man crush has been forever carved in NHL history, as San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau takes the crown for the most number of NHL games played from Gordie Howe.

And could there be a drafting nightmare as the OHL cancels its season?

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Pic credit: Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images

The team 'pick' apart what just happened in the last 24 hours of the NHL 2021 Trade Deadline.

Matt has a rant about how unfair it is that Vancouver Canucks get a 7 day extension to their regular season, unlike his team Dallas Stars. 

After a couple of decent deals for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jolon is even feeling chipper and upbeat when defending NHL player safety.

And Clare admits she’s still scratching her beard over how cap space can be rented out between teams, especially the three way deals. It’s like the most confusing game of Monopoly you’ve ever played…

Features chat about Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and more.

NHL Fans From Afar Podcast is presented by Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Lost in a sea of fruit bowl analogies, Clare and Jolon pick apart who's in and out of a playoff spot at present, express concern for Jack Campbell's crotch, look ahead to the upcoming Trade Deadline, and debate whether the NHL was right to suspend referee Tim Peel for 'that' on mic penalty call.

Plus, ever named your pet after an ice hockey player? Jolon needs help naming his new puppy with a connection to the Toronto Maple Leafs...but needs to find a clever one so his fiance can't catch him out! And Clare has some pretty cool blue and white news of her own...

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Ahhh it's the most wonderful time of the year.... playoffs are coming and covid is going, we're gald you are heeeerrre!

Dallas Stars fan and NFFA regular Matt Day joins Jolon to talk about the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline. They look at who is buying, selling or sticking with their rosters ahead of the deadline on April 12th. Also how will Covid and the Kraken effect this years deadline.

The boys take a wander through the Goalie market and try to find out what's wrong with the Flyers.

And take a second to remember just what watching live sports was like as today is the day 3 years ago Matt went to his first ever live Dallas game.

All this and much more!