Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika (09:06), who is in Columbus covering the candlelight vigil in remembrance of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau. Nick, who recently wrote about that tragedy and its impact on hockey, shares his thoughts on the news. The conversation shifts to other hockey news, including Leon Draisaitl's eight-year, $112 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers and its implications for Connor McDavid and the team. They also discuss Tomas Hertl's potential impact with the Vegas Golden Knights now that he's healthy and expected to join training camp. After chatting with Nick, Dan and Shawn delve into restricted free agents, focusing on Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and what the Montreal Canadiens can expect from Patrik Laine. They also touch on Brad Marchand's recovery from injury and the ongoing talks regarding Sidney Crosby's contract extension.

Dan and Shawn discuss a potpourri of offseason moves and start by talking about the splash made by the Nashville Predators, who signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei on July 1. Does this make the Predators the best team in the Central Division and a real Stanley Cup threat? They wonder why the Lightning did not re-sign Stamkos, instead opting to sign Jake Guentzel. They hit on the Maple Leafs and their main moves, including signing Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to bolster their defense. Does it make the Maple Leafs better? If so, how much better? They discuss the Boston Bruins signing Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, and why both are perfect fits. They also talk about the Carolina Hurricanes and the hit they took on July 1. They banter about Jake DeBrusk's seven-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks and the Seattle Kraken hiring Jessica Campbell to be the first female assistant coach on the bench.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (18:00) to discuss the Panthers advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, how the team is handling the days off, the importance of ending series early, Paul Maurice's coaching style, his welcome to the Playoffs moment and when he started dreaming about winning the Stanley Cup as a kid. The guys start he episode discussing what series has the best chance to go 7 games and really diving into the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights matchup. They also look ahead to the future of the Tampa Bay Lightning and whether it includes Steven Stamkos and/or Jon Cooper. They wrap the episode with an in-depth discussion on the NY Rangers/Carolina Hurricanes series and look at the Edmonton Oilers first round win over the LA Kings. Plus, they update the coaching carousel and talk about the Seattle Kraken parting ways with Dave Hakstol. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour (25:41). He talks about the art of shutting down games, the high powered offenses of the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, the state of the Hurricanes heading into the Playoffs, the stabilizing force that Freddie Andersen has been for the Canes and how he defines the qualities that the winner of the Hart Trophy should exhibit.  The guys start the episode talking about whether the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Oilers can be successful in the playoffs with their style of play and the importance of being able to shut down games come playoff time and they compare Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, wondering if Matthews is being overlooked as the best player in the NHL. They close out the episode talking about Roman Josi's chances of winning the Hart Trophy, answer a mailbag question on the Norris Trophy race and reflect on Ryan Getzlaf's retirement announcement. 

Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke were joined by Amalie Benjamin (15:25), NHL.com's Boston-based staff writer, who discussed her recent visit to Vancouver to report on and write about the new-look Canucks' executive staff complete with Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato, the first two women assistant general managers in NHL history. Benjamin discussed her interviews with Castonguay and Granato along with conversations she had with Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, the first Swedish GM in NHL history, and Jim Rutherford, Vancouver's president of hockey operations. Benjamin also discussed the Bruins (32:00), the team she covers most for NHL.com. She touched on the immediate questions about goalie Jeremy Swayman and how he will handle the pressure of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, and hit on the future of center Patrice Bergeron, who is 36 years old and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. 

Rosen and Roarke also had a breakdown of the race in the Western Conference (9:00), specifically the Pacific Division, and gave reasons why it's hard for them to believe in any team besides the Calgary Flames. They talked about goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's impact on the Minnesota Wild since his arrival in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks (5:00). The Wild have won seven in a row, including five straight since Fleury got to Minnesota. The co-hosts also gave some thoughts on the news that came out of the NHL General Managers' meetings (56:00) this week and the passing of Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who died Monday night. He was 62 years old (58:00). 

Dan and Shawn react to all the moves made leading up to and on NHL Trade Deadline day. They each share their thoughts on the Wild acquiring Marc-Andrew Fleury, discuss the impact of Giroux's decision to waive his no-movement clause to go to the Panthers and what that says about Florida as a destination for NHL players. They discussed the New York Rangers and the impact of adding forwards Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte, and defenseman Justin Braun. They dissect the moves made by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken. They also discuss why the Edmonton Oilers didn't make a bigger splash. 

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Tom Gulitti, NHL.com's Washington-based staff writer, joins co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke for the entire episode, giving perspective on Ovechkin scoring his 767th goal to move past Jaromir Jagr and into third place all time (2:00). They also talked about the Capitals being 5-0-1 since general manager Brian MacLellan said the team may be less aggressive at the Deadline (12:00) and went into detail on the Vegas Golden Knights' struggles and reasons why they've lost five straight games (18:00). 

Who are the Claude Giroux suitors? Will Giroux accept a trade? The guys ponder these questions and also discuss the future of the Philadelphia Flyers (34:00). The Maple Leafs goalie issues are discussed and Dan believes that the team needs to make a move for a defenseman (57:00). Are the Vancouver Canucks sellers? What will the Florida Panthers do at the Deadline? and what are some dark horse teams that will make significant moves? All these questions are asked and answered on this Trade Deadline preview edition of NHL @TheRink. 

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Dan and Shawn are joined by Tage Thompson (21:47). The Buffalo Sabres  leading scorer with 42 points talked about the return of Jack Eichel to Western New York, the growth of the team under Don Granato, some of the keys to his success on the ice and his journey from a youth player to the NHL. In addition to the interview with Thompson, the guys focused on Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin catching Jaromir Jagr (7:04) for third all-time in goals with 766, Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews' push to score 60 or more goals this season (11:53), New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin's candidate for the Hart Trophy (49:40) and the New York Islanders plans at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline (44:00).

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Dan and Shawn are joined by Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin (21:50). Bill talks about whether he's concerned about the Wild's recent 4-game losing streak, explains how he's looking at his team as the Trade Deadline approaches and marvels at the emergence of Matt Boldy. He talks about some of the teams that have impressed him this season, including the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche and is convinced that the Wild can compete to win a Stanley Cup this season. He remembers what the Trade Deadline was like as a player and explains how his perception of the deadline has changed as a GM. The guys start the episode discussing the Blackhawks hiring Kyle Davidson as their GM and the decisions that Davidson will have to make with Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. They also dissect the Washington Capitals and ponder whether they should be buyers at the Trade Deadline. They wrap up the episode debating whether the Toronto Maple Leafs have a major issue at the goalie position and who the best U.S. born player is that's under 23 years old; some interesting picks by Dan and Shawn. 

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Dan and Shawn are joined by former Nashville Predators goalie and current Predators broadcaster Chris Mason (6:30). Mason reflects on Pekka Rinne's legacy, the growth of Nashville as a hockey market and the anticipation of this weekend's Stadium Series. He discusses what makes Rinne so special and the reason why the Nashville fanbase adores him so much. He also talks about the trade rumors surrounding Filip Forsberg, the state of the Predators and the reasons for Juuse Saros' success. Dan and Shawn dissect a bunch of other NHL storylines (30:30), including Zdeno Chara's milestone, their Super 16, and the trade deadline market. 

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Dan and Shawn are joined by Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman (24:44). Swayman discusses his topsy-turvy season, his relationship with Tuukka Rask, his mindset as he tries to become the Bruins No.1 goalie, the pride he has as an Alaskian and his "welcome to the NHL" moment.  The guys start of the episode talking about Jack Eichel's return to the ice with Golden Knights and debate whether Carolina or Florida would have an edge in a 7-game series. They also look at Tyler Toffoli's impact on the Calgary Flames and are now seriously intrigued with the Flames as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Did Brad Treliving make the right move acquiring Toffoli? For once, Dan and Shawn agree on sometihng.... After Swayman, the guys reflect on Tuukka Rask's legacy in Boston (36:45) and talk about Everett Fitzhugh and JT Brown making history as the first all-black TV broadcast in NHL history. Plus, they look at the most recent Super 16 rankings and peak ahead to next week's Stadium Series game in Nashville. 

Dan Rosen and Shawn were joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika to talk about the Boston Bruins' goaltending situation with the report in The Athletic late Tuesday that said Tuukka Rask was going to announce his retirement in the coming days. The conversation turned to the Bruins' needs in other areas, particularly on defense.  Claude Giroux and where he could be playing after the trade deadline was discussed. The Philadelphia Flyers forward is in the last year of his contract and has a no-movement clause but could be willing to waive it to facilitate a trade to a Stanley Cup contender.  Where could Giroux go and what impact would he make were two areas discussed and debated by Rosen, Roarke and Cotsonika.  They also talked about Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Dallas Stars goalie Braden Holtby, suggesting both could be a target for the Washington Capitals if they decide they want to upgrade or change from the tandem they have now in Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek.  The ramifications surrounding center Jack Eichel's pending inclusion in the Vegas Golden Knights' lineup was discussed and the impact, or fallout of it debated too by Rosen, Roarke and Cotsonika. 

Dan & Shawn record from NHL Fan Fair in Las Vegas and are joined by former NHLer and Stanley Cup winner Andrew Ference (1:00), TNT analyst Rick Tocchet (19:24), Mike McKenna from The Daily Faceoff (37:22) and NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. Plenty of topics covered, ranging from goalie chatter with McKenna, street ball hockey with Ference, top NHL storylines with Tocchet and Gulitti. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Turner Sports analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang (15:00). Pang explains why losing goalie Thatcher Demko to an undisclosed injury will be an issue for the Canucks and discusses how the Avalanche have re-gained control of their series against the Jets largely because they have found a way to score 10 goals  in two games against Hellebuyck. Pang also gives a full two-minute breakdown of Sergei Bobrovsky's incredible save on Matt Dumba in the Panthers OT win against the Lightning and calls that save the best he's seen in the NHL this season. He also talks about the Lightning and answers the question from Rosen on if we're seeing the end of an era of Tampa Bay hockey. In addition, Rosen and Roarke discuss the Islanders and Capitals chances of getting back in their respective series. The Islanders are down 2-0 to the Hurricanes and the Capitals are down 2-0 to the New York Rangers. They breakdown Carter Verhaeghe's ability to be clutch, why the Maple Leafs need to be forthright about what is going on with forward William Nylander, the impact of Mark Stone's return to the Vegas Golden Knights and more. Off the ice, Rosen and Roarke talk about the hiring of Lindy Ruff as the Sabres new coach and the firing of David Quinn. 

Henrik Lundqvist joins the guys (8:30) to give his thoughtful perspective on his jersey number retirement and discuss some of his favorite memories playing for the NY Rangers. He talks about preparing for his speech, teammates that have impacted him, the relationship he had with Rangers' fans, dabbling in broadcasting and his plans for the future. The episode continues after the interview with Lundqvist as Dan and Shawn breakdown the important storylines happening in the NHL (27:00). They talk about Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle breaking Doug Jarvis' NHL ironman record by playing in his 965th consecutive game Tuesday. They also talk about the next steps for the Flyers, who have lost 13 consecutive games. They dive into a discussion on the Detroit Red Wings (41:00) and what general manager Steve Yzerman might do leading up to the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline on March 21. And they give a tribute to former New York Islanders forward Clark Gillies (49:00). 

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Dan and Shawn are joined Kevin Woodley of NHL.com and InGoal Magazine (14:00). Woodley hits on a ton of goalie storylines, including Marc-Andre Fleury's trade value and his potential suitors, Bobrovsky's current form, Tuukka Rask's return, Colorado's goaltending, and his choice for the Vezina Trophy. No one can talk about NHL goaltending better than Kevin and he puts on a master class on one of the biggest topics in the NHL this season. Dan and Shawn start the episode talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs... are they a soft team? Let the debate begin!! Plus, they touch on the Montreal Canadiens hiring Kent Hughes as their GM and the challenges that Hughes faces as he tries to turn around the franchise. After Woodley, the guys wrap up the episode talking about John Klingberg's future and what teams may have interest in trading fo him. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Derek Stepan of the Carolina Hurricanes (19:48). Stepan talks about his "Senior" role with the Canes, playing for Rod Brind'Amour and the growth of Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. He also looks back at his time with the NY Rangers and talks a lot about Henrik Lundqvist ahead of his jersey retirement at MSG. The guys start the episode talking about Evgeni Malkin's brilliant return to the ice and comparing the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers. Plus, they look at Jack Eichel as he took the ice with Vegas for the first time and discuss the surprise Nashville Predators. They wrap up the episode discussing Niklas Lidstrom's new gig with the Detroit Red Wings and the Edmonton Oilers interest in Evander Kane. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (27:00). Sullivan talks about the Penguins winning streak, how the team has overcomed injuries, the reason why Evan Rodrigues has blossomed, Evgeni Malkin's pending return from injury and Tristan Jarry's ability to bounce back from last year's playoff disappointment. He also shares his thoughts on Kris Letang's consistent play and why he's on board with the new Penguins ownership group. To start the episode, the guys marvel at Cale Makar's most recent spectacular goal.. is it the goal of the season? And talk about the goalie issues in Colorado, Minnesota and Edmonton and the goalie strengths in Nashville, Vancouver and Winnipeg. They dive deep on the Oilers' issues and what needs to happen for them to make the playoffs. After Sullivan, they answer a few mailbag questions on the Washington Capitals and the Calgary Flames. Follow @TheRInk on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network & ESPN's Kevin Weekes (28:05) to talk about all the happenings around the NHL, including the impact of the break, the legitimacy of the New York Rangers, the Nashville Predators' sustainability and the intrigue of this year's Winter Classic. He settles a long-running debate between Dan and Shawn on the New York Rangers and shares an idea he's had for a while that he'd like to see the NHL pull off.  The guys start the episode talking about the return of Brayden Point and marvel at Jon Cooper's ability to continue to get the most out of his team, despite the injuries they've sustained.  They look at the top storylines coming out of the break, including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators' winning streaks, Bruce Boudreau's impact on the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins with Tuukka Rask potentially returning to the team. They wrap up the episode with a deep dive on the Winter Classic, including some thoughts on why the event means so much to the NHL and how the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild match up on the ice. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Mike Morreale (22:49) to talk about the World Juniors and players that will impact the tournament. He looks at Team USA and Team Canada, and breaks down their strengths and weaknesses heading into this year's tournament. He also looks at the Devils and helps answer a mailbag question that's focused on the New Jersey Devils rebuild. The guys open up the episode talking about the NHL & NHLPA's decision to not participate in this year's Olympics and NHL's plan to reschedule games that have been postponed by Covid related issues. They also talk about the Anahem Ducks, Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings... are they legitimate playoff contenders? They wrap up the episode asking that same question about the Pittsburgh Penguins, NY Rangers and Nashville Predators (50:00). 

Dan and Shawn are joined by St. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (25:00) to talk about the Blues gearing up for the Winter Classic, how the team has responded to Tarasenko's off-season trade request and his charity, Project 55. He explains what it's like to play under Craig Berube and how players respond to his intense nature. The guys start off the episode talking about the Vancouver Canucks' resurgence and the reasons for the Edmonton Oilers' slump. They discuss the recent Covid disruptions to the NHL schedule and the future of the NHL participating in the Olympics. They close out the episode talking about the recent struggles of the New Jersey Devils and the potential for a coaching change in Jersey. They look at Ben Bishop's career and answer a mailbag question on Filip Forsberg's future in Nashville. 

Dan and Shawn discuss the coaching changes in Vancouver and Philadelphia and Keith Jones (26:15) checks in to talk about the issues in Philadelphia, Carter Hart's decreasing confidence and Mike Yeo's potential impact on this struggling Flyers team. Jones also explains why Bruce Boudreau is the right coach in the short-term to lead the Canucks and gives us his take on the Trevor Zegras/Sonny Milano goal from Tuesday night. The guys start the episode marveling at the alley-oop goal that Zegras & Milano teamed up on against the Sabres and Shawn dives deeper into the reasons why goals like this are happening more often in the NHL. They talk about the 3 hottest teams right now in the League, the Wild, Rangers and Stars and debate how they stack up against each other (22:00). Shawn isn't impressed with the Rangers beating up on inferior competition and Dan makes the case for why the Wild is the most impressive team of the bunch. They wrap up the episode discussing Marc-Andre Fleury's legacy, all-time goalie rankings and the unique EBUG situation that went down in Boston this week with Tuukka Rask (47:00). 

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Dan and Shawn are joined by Dave Stubbs of NHL.com to talk about the state of the Montreal Canadiens, the hiring of Jeff Gorton, the reaction to potentially going through a rebuild and the importance of hiring a GM that speaks French (23:00). The guys start the episode talking about the ceiling of the Golden Knights, the impressive play of the Florida Panthers and the deal that the Devils just inked with Jack Hughes. They close the episode discussing the state of the Boston Bruins, Jake DeBrusk requesting a trade and the future of Tuukka Rask. They also chat about Matt Murray's trade value and the potential of the Flyers trading Claude Giroux. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Brian Compton to talk about the issues surrounding the New York Islanders, their poor power play and potential fixes that Barry Trotz may have up his sleeve to right the ship (7:00). He also reviews UBS Arena, and discusses the Calgary Flames (14:00), Jacob Markstrom's marvelous start (18:00), Jared Bednar's contract extension (24.00), the improved power play of th e Nashville Predators (29:00)  and the Anaheim Ducks (37:00). Dan and Shawn wrap up the episode discussing potential moves that the NY Rangers may make, why Alexis Lafreniere should get a shot to play in the top 6 (45:00) and the reason Seth Jarvis has been able to be successful with the Carolina Hurricanes (Rod Brind'Amour is a factor). Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Tom Gulitti (12:26) to talk about the Washington Capitals punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, their series with the NY Rangers, the Eastern Conference playoff bracket and some of the matchups in the Western Conference. Dan and Shawn start the episode talking about the Eastern Conference playoffs and after their interview with Tom, they look at the Western side of the bracket and try to handicap what should be a wild few months of playoff hockey. They also get an early start on some of the most intriguing offseason storylines, including the coaching carousel that started in Buffalo with the firing of Don Granato and what the Senators, Devils and Blues may do with their coaching search. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by long-time Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (18:45). Fowler talked about Ryan Getzlaf collecting his 1000th point and the great start that the Ducks have had to the season. Fowler is pretty tight with Troy Terry (they were roomates) and explains why Terry has had success this year, he also talks about the promising young players on the Ducks, including Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. He shares some of the characteristics that makes John Gibson such a good goalie and talks about the excitement in Anaheim as the Ducks have won 8 straight games. At the start of the episode, Dan and Shawn talk about the candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2022, and discuss Roberto Luongo's chances of getting inducted next year. Former NHL player Emerson Etem joined (46:45) to talk about his experience owning and coaching the Long Beach Shredders of the USPHL. Emerson chats about his love for coaching, and shares his favorite Ryan Getzlaf story. The guys also spend some time discussing the Devils, Penguins, Canucks and Islanders. They also get heated while talking about Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

* Special thanks to the NHL Coaches Association 

Dan and Shawn are joined by former NY Rangers GM and current NHL Network analyst Jeff Gorton (19:25). Jeff takes the guys behind the scenes of the Jack Eichel trade and explains the inner workings of a blockbuster deal in the NHL. He discusses his biggest surprise of the early season, and shares what current GM in the NHL young GMs have to be ALWAYS be aware of. He looks at the LA Kings and explains why the Phillip Danault trade made perfect sense for the Kings. Is he concerned about the Colorado Avalanche or the Vegas Golden Knights? He answers those questions, while also touching on the changes made in Chicago.  The guys start the episode breaking down the Jack Eichel trade, wondering if Jared Bednar's seat is heating up in Colorado and marveling at Alex Ovechkin's early season production. They wrap up the episode (40:00) talking about the surprise teams in California, Troy Terry's excellent play, the Detroit Red Wings and Carey Price.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by their NHL.com colleague Mike Zeisberger for a good old-fashioned hockey roundtable discussion. The topics include the Maple Leafs recent play, their roster flaws and goalie play. They touch on Cole Caufield getting sent down to the AHL and how it changes the complexion of the Calder Trophy race. Dan thinks the play of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider has catupulted each of them into the Calder discussion and has made the Detroit Red Wings a really fun team to watch. Zeisberger compares Adam Fox to one of the all-time best defensemen and looks at the qualities that makes him such an impressive player. They look at the Calgary Flames and the impact that Darryl Sutter has had on the team and the excellent goaltending they've gotten so far from Jacob Markstrom. Has Frederik Andersen turned a corner in Carolina? And how have the Maple Leafs fans reacted to Andersen's recent play with his new team? It's a potpourri of hockey discussion, follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Ian Cole (15:00). Ian talks about the Carolina Hurricanes quick start, playing for Rod Brind'Amour, and the uniqueness of the Carolina market. He explains what makes Jaccob Slavin such a good defenseman and how, as he has gotten older, has worked to keep up with a League that is emphasizing youth and speed. The guys started the episode talking about the Chicago Blackhawks, Stan Bowman's resignation and their recent poor performance on the ice. They also look at the Toronto Maple Leafs and try to figure out what's wrong with Mitch Marner and wonders if their poor play continues if changes will be made. They fnish the episode discussing the Calgary Flames as a surprising success story in the Western Conference and wondered aloud if there should be concerns about the Colorado Avalanche's slow start. They also hit on the St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Winnipeg Jets and more. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

* Due to the Nor'easter, the hosts internet connection wasn't ideal, we apologize for any audio hiccups and technical issues throughout the episode, they will be corrected for future episodes. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato (23:15). Granato talks about the quick start for the Sabres, why the team is playing well, how Jack Eichel's situation has been dealt with by players, the importance of Jeff Skinner and what has caught his eye from the start of the season from around the NHL. The guys start the episode by discussing some teams that have started slow and whether their fanbases should be panicking, they touch on the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights. They close out the episode by chatting about some of the teams that have started the season hot and whether or not they should be consdidered legitimate contenders, including the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks. They wish Mike Bossy well as he battles lung cancer and discuss what made him such a great player, and is often underrated by a lot of fans.  

Dan Rosen was in Tampa Bay this week and sat down with Steven Stamkos (19:44). Stamkos was asked about the possibility of a three-peat for the Lightning and he discusses the challenge of losing key players from their Stanley Cup team, explains why the Florida Panthers are now a legitimate rival and chats about some of the reasons why Jon Cooper is a perfect fit to lead this team. Dan and Shawn start the episode discussing the NHL's opening night, the guts displayed by the Seattle Kraken, ESPN's debut and why Vegas has the best atmosphere in the NHL. They wonder if the Pittsburgh Penguins can sustain what they did against the LIghtning and talk about how Jon Cooper will use the Lightning's poor performance to motivate and re-focus his team. They shared some thoughts on their interpretation of what is and what isn't a "distinct kicking motion" as Chandler Stephenson's controversial goal led to the Golden Knights victory over the Kraken. They close out the episode (35:57) discussing the Tampa Bay/Florida rivalry, looking at NHL.com's first Trophy Tracker of the season (they have a hearty debate on the criteria for the Jack Adams Award) and answering some questions surrounding the playoff chances of the New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Seattle Kraken defenseman Mark Giordano (23:00). Giordano talks about the excitement surrounding the Kraken, their debut against the Vegas Golden Knights, the expectations surrounding the team, the quality of players the Kraken have assembled and the unique opportunity that the team has to forge their identity during their inaugural season. He makes a bold prediction and  feels very confident in the team's roster and makeup as they start the season.  To start the episode, Dan and Shawn talk about Carey Price's leave of absence and the impact it will have on the Canadiens. They discuss the goalie injuries that the Islanders and Avalanche are dealing with and the comments made by Robin Lehner over the weekend. They close out the episode making some BOLD predictions (Dan's weren't so bold), their Super 16, Olympic rosters and the sit-down interview that Dan had with Henrik Lundqvist (go check it out on nhl.com). Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell (27:00). Campbell talks about "All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs," a five-part docuseries covering the Maple Leafs' 2020-21 season that will premiere on Amazon Prime in North America on Friday. He also talks about the unique experience of being followed by camera crews, while having his best season of his career last season. He chats about the expectations surrounding the Maple Leafs this year and why he's confident that playoff success is around the corner.  The guys start the show talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins and how they'll deal with injuries to Sidney Crosby & Evgeni Malkin to start the season. They debate NHL Network's recent player rankings and answer a mailbag question about the NHL Division rankings. To end the episode, they talk about the remaining unsigned UFAs - including Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Brady Tkachuk. Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network's EJ Hradek to talk about the storylines around the NHL as training camps open up this week.  EJ explains why Bill Guerin will get a deal done with Kirill Kaprizov and the differences between the Wild's situation with Kaprizov and the Canucks' situation with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. They discuss the crowded goalie scenario in Dallas, the roster changes to the Flyers and how the team will deal with the loss of Kevin Hayes to injury to start the season. The NY Rangers want to name a captain, who should it be? Dan makes the case for Adam Fox, while Shawn and EJ argue that the Rangers should wait another year before naming their next captain. The Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks are also talked about in this episode. Follow on Twitter @TheRink. 

Dan and Shawn are back with a loaded episode and a conversation with reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox (28:46). Fox talks about the expectations surrounding the Rangers, the chances of him being named team Captain and his initial thoughts on new coach Gerard Gallant. Fox talks about the NHL's participation in the Olympics and shares some of his favorite Olympic hockey memories. The guys start the episode discussing Jack Eichel's future and disagree on how the Sabres should handle the situation. They explain the Blues stance on Tarasenko and share their thoughts on Chicago's off-season moves. Shawn isn't very fond of the recent remarks made by Kyle Dubas that puts pressure squarely on the Maple Leafs to have playoff success. They wrap up the episode discussing the NHL's participation in the Olympics and talk about their top "under the radar" off-season moves. Happy to be back for the 2021-22 season, follow the podcast on Twitter @TheRink. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Dallas Stars analyst Daryl "Razor" Reaugh (23:25) to to talk about the Stars improvements on the defensive end and how they've successfully meshed their mix of youth and experience. He talks about coach Peter DeBoer's calm demeanor on the bench and his behind the scenes work that has gotten the Stars to be a Stanley Cup contender. In addition, Reaugh talks about Chris Tanev's ability to move the puck and why Tanev's gregarious personality is perfect for the super serious Stars. How the Stars stack up against the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers is also part of the interview with Reaugh. Rosen and Roarke breakdown the Eastern Conference playoff race, discuss Alex Ovechkin's ability to get to 30 goals for an NHL record 18 seasons, talk about the reasons why Nathan MacKinnon should win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player to his team, and they have a few arguments along the way too, including one on if 100 assists or 70 goals is a more impressive feat in a single season.

Dan and Shawn start the episode talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning and wondering if this team has a chance to win 3 straight titles. They also discuss Jack Eichel's future in Buffalo, the market for Eichel and other free agents heading into the off-season. Fleury or Lehner? The two debate what goalie the Vegas Golden Knights may try to trade to free up some salary cap space for other needs. NHL.com staff writer & co-host of the NHL Draft Class podcast Mike Morreale (18:00) joins to discuss everything NHL Draft. He touches on Owen Power, his deveolpment in college and his teammates Matt Beniers and Kent Johnson. He dives into the top goalie prospects, sleepers, surprises and discusses the challenges that scouts faced evaluating this year's class of prospects due to Covid. The guys wrap up the episode talking about Tarasenko and the trade market for him, the decisions that Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche have to make, Pierre McGuire joining the Ottawa Senators and the Expansion Draft. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Kenny Albert to talk about calling the Stanley Cup Final on NBC, the storylines surrounding the series, the goaltending matchup, having the fans back in buildings, the difference between calling NHL games on TV & radio, working with Eddie Olczyk and the impact that NBC has had on the presentation of hockey during their years as a NHL TV rightsholder. They are also joined by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta (38:00). Rutta talks about playing with Victor Hedman, matching up with Montreal and the impact that fans have had on the play on the ice. He also provides some insight into what it's like playing with an all-world goalie like Andrei Vasilevskiy and awesome offensive players like Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. The guys also talk about Buffalo hiring Don Granato, the goalie situation in Las Vegas and ESPN announcing their stable of TV talent for their NHL coverage starting next season. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Brian Compton to talk about both semifinal series. Compton explains what exactly needs to happen for the Islanders to win the next two games and the adjustments he'd like to see Barry Trotz make. The Lightning have dominated the last 4 periods of play and have scored the last 10 goals in the series, so is that it for the Islanders? The guys marvel at Brayden Point and discuss why Jon Cooper doesn't get enough credit. They also look at the awesome story that is unfolding with the Montreal Canadiens and how Carey Price has a knack for getting in opposing shooters heads. They talk about Pete DeBoer's decision to start Robin Lehner in Game 4 and the amazing growth that Chandler Stephenson as shown from the 2018 Stanley Cup Final when he was the designated blogger for NHL.com to now as the top center on this Vegas team.  They wrap up the episode talking about the marriage between Gerard Gallant and the New York Rangers and the task at hand for Chris Drury to get his roster built for playoff hockey. Finally, they recognize the passing of Tom Kurvers and the impact he had on the hockey world. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by two-time Stanley Cup winner Scott Gomez (17:00) to talk about his new series "Scotty Goes" where he catches up with former players (Martin Brodeur, Steve Valiquette, Adam Oates, Ken Daneyko). The NHL series debuts on 6/17 on Facebook and Instagram TV. Gomez shares some awesome stories on Brodeur, Lou Lamoriello and Goldberg the wrestler, and talks about creating the series and his travels while filming the series. Dan and Shawn start the episode talking about the Stanley Cup Playoffs and all the storylines surrounding both semifinal series. They wrap up the episode talking about the New York Rangers hiring Gerard Gallant, the Blue Jackets hiring Brad Larsen, Tuukka Rask's future with the Boston Bruins and Dougie Hamilton's future with the Carolina Hurricanes.  

Dan and Shawn are joined by Dave Stubbs (8:00) to talk about the Montreal Canadiens and their improbable playoff run to win the North Division. Former coach and now NHL Network analyst Bruce Boudreau (26:30) also joins to talk about all the playoff storylines, including the war of words between Bruce Cassidy and Barry Trotz, Tuukka Rask's health, the reasons the Avs are stuggling against Vegas and Tampa Bay's quest to repeat.  

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Toronto-based staff writer Mike Zeisberger and Golden Knights insider Gary Lawless. Lawless defended Vegas coach Peter DeBoer's choice to start goalie Robin Lehner over Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.  Lawless talked about the challenge the Golden Knights face if forward Mattias Janmark can't play in Game 2 after sustaining an injury on a hit from Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves in Game 1. He gave some ideas for what Vegas' lineup could look like if Janmark can't play.   Zeisberger went into detail about the fallout from the Maple Leafs' latest playoff setback. They blew a 3-1 series lead against the Montreal Canadiens by losing Games 5 and 6 in overtime before getting eliminated with a 3-1 loss in Game 7 at home on Monday.  Zeisberger also talked about the big questions that await the Maple Leafs in the offseason. Do they trade one of Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner or William Nylander? Who is going to be their No. 1 goalie next season? Will the fallout of the loss impact president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe?

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika to touch on all the intrigue of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How did the Oilers get swept, and how does Kenny Holland move forward with this team? Who should Vegas start in goal for Game 7? They look at the Bruins/Islanders 2nd round matchup and talk about the Lightning/Panthers series. How will the Panthers move forward with their goaltenders next season? They discuss the Pittsburgh Penguins roster and the challenges ahead for Brian Burke and Ron Hextall with this team. Finally, they talk about Wayne Gretzky joining Turner Sports and look at who else they'd love to see join Gretzky in the studio. It's a Stanley Cup Playoffs buffet episode, enjoy! 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Carolina Hurricanes TV analyst Tripp Tracy (24:00). Tracy talks about the great playoff atmosphere in Carolina, why Alex Nedeljkovic has been so good, the Hurricanes awesome penalty kill and what the impact is of Jaccob Slavin being out of the lineup. Tripp also marvels at the athleticism of Marc-Andre Fleury and discusses the Florida Panthers goalie situation. Dan and Shawn start the episode discussing just how powerful the Avs look, the Kadri hit, the Habs lineup choices, the Oilers/Jets series and the goalie predicament that the Capitals are dealing with. After Tripp, the guys banter about the Vegas/Minnesota series, Pacioretty's absence and the Islanders/Penguins series. They also react to the news of John Davidson re-joining the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke are joined by Brian Boucher to preview the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He talks about how the Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and Panthers will handle their goalies when the playoffs start, the late season questions and health concerns surrounding the Lightning, the chances of the Minnesota Wild springing a first round upset, the collision course that the Avs and Vegas are on and the concerns he has with the Washington Capitals. Boucher wonders if the Toronto Maple Leafs can be considered a Cup favorite and explains why Connor McDavid and the Oilers won't win the Stanley Cup this year. He also talks about what Carter Hart can do to regain his confidence, the Rangers firing David Quinn and how the Sabres should handle Jack Eichel in the offseason. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Craig Berube to talk about the Blues playoff push, Ryan O'Reilly's importance, Binnington's feisty nature, the West division and what the NHL playoffs may look like this year (26.00). Before chatting with Berube, the guys talk about the Rangers firing their front office and brining in Chris Drury. Was the move justified? And how much patience is needed during a rebuild? Plus, they touch on Connor McDavid's quest for 100 pts. They also chat about TJ Oshie's hat trick and Michael Houser's awesome story and NHL debut. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Casey Mittelstadt of the Colorado Avalanche (18:50). Casey talks about adjusting to life in Colorado, playing with and learning from Nathan MacKinnon and the anticipation he has to play in a playoff game for the first time. The guys start the episode talking about the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, wondering if the Philadelphia Flyers have enough to hold on and dissecting the complicated nature of John Tortorella. They marvel at Sidney Crosby's longevity and look at if the Penguins can somehow claw their way into the playoffs. They wrap the episode with a potpourri of topics, including the red-hot Dallas Stars, the Art Ross Trophy race, the Florida Panthers recent struggles and the race for the Presidents Trophy. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by John Hynes (20:50) to talk about the Nashville Predators as they try to push for the playoffs, the keys to their turnaround and Juuse Saros raising his level of play. Hynes also discusses how his team matches up against the Dallas Stars, how coaches try to slow down Connor McDavid and how he would prefer to manage goalies come playoff time. The guys start the episode talking about the Vegas Golden Knights and their goalie situation as they head into the playoffs and chat about the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens. After Hynes (40:00), the guys talk about the Central and East Divisions, looking at the Dallas Stars, the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders. Will the Rangers push their way into the playoffs? And how will the Central Division end up looking? Plus, thoughts on the new TNT television deal and Ryan Miller's retirement announcement. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Shane Doan (16:00). Doan is the Arizona Coyotes Chief Hockey Development Officer and was recently named Assistant GM for Team Canada. He talks about the state of the Coyotes as they fight for a playoff position and compares Conor Garland to a former Hart Trophy winner. He chats about the skill of Mark Stone and gives Auston Matthews some major props. He also discusses his new position with Team Canada, working with Roberto Luongo and explains why it's always an honor to suit up for Team Canada. Before Doan, Dan and Shawn discuss the Dallas Stars winning streak, the Calder Trophy race, and just how good the Vegas Golden Knights are. They wrap up the episode by breaking down the East Division playoff race, the recent struggles of the Toronto Maple Leafs and share some news & notes coming out of the GM Meetings. 

Dan and Shawn react to all the moves made at the Trade Deadline. They break down the Capitals/Red Wings trade, discuss what Taylor Hall will bring to the Bruins and how the Penguins can be helped by Jeff Carter. Who are the deadline winners and losers? And what are the most impactful under the radar moves? The guys cover every angle of the Trade Deadline and look ahead to how all the moves may pan out down the stretch run of the regular season and in the playoffs.