Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network's Thomas Hickey (20:10). Hickey touches on the struggling NY Islanders, Connor McDavid's recent hot stretch and the streaking Nashville Predators. Plus, he points out some of the offensive attributes from Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes that has turned his head in recent seasons. The guys start the episode discussing Patrick Kane signing with Detroit Red Wings and the potential impact he could have on the team and look at some of the challenges that exist with coming back from hip surgery. They talk about the Minnesota Wild's coaching change and dissect the Wild's struggles and wonder if a change in coach will make a lasting impact. They wrap the episode chatting about their biggest surprises at the quarter mark of the season, including the LA Kings success, Frank Vatrano's scoring outburst and Jonathan Quick's resurgence with the NY Rangers.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Amalie Benjamin (17:50), NHL.com's Boston-based staff writer, to discuss the Bruins, their goalies, their hot start to the season, the legal situation involving forward Milan Lucic and the impact it has on the team and more. Should Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman both be getting consideration as candidates for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie this season? The trio weighs in on that question and the guys also hit on William Nylander's big week in Stockholm and debated if he is the best player on the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. They also talked about Artemi Panarin's strong start to the season and if he is the New York Rangers best player. Other topics covered are Patrik Laine getting scratched and the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets, what Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin might do if they don't start to pull out of their slump, and predictions on which team will sign unrestricted free agent forward Patrick Kane.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Kevin Woodley, who covers the Canucks and writes the "Unmasked" column for NHL.com (22:08). Woodley hit on the main points of the Canucks this season and why they're in first place in the Pacific Division, including the play of goalie Thatcher Demko, the growth in leadership of Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, and the structure that has been implemented by coach Rick Tocchet. The guys also asked him to discuss St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and if his strong start to this season is sustainable. The guys also talked about the bump the Edmonton Oilers have gotten since changing coaches and the Blues, Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, three of the hottest teams in the NHL, and asked the question, are they for real? They hit on the NHL Global Series Sweden and offered their opinion on conversation the NHL general managers had about adjusting how overtime is played.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Ken Hitchcock (22:33). Hitchcock will be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend and he talks about his coaching philosophy, Bob Gainey's influence, his welcome to the NHL moment and how he had to adapt throughout the course of his coaching career. The guys start the episode talking about the red-hot Vancouver Canucks, the start that Quinn Hughes has had to his season and whether or not Vancouver will be able to sustain the high level of play throughout the season. They also touch on Jonathan Huberdeau's struggles and how the Calgary Flames highest paid player will bounce back from being benched this week in the 3rd period against the Nashville Predators. What's going on in Edmonton? They look at Jack Campbell's struggles and all the issues surrounding the Oilers. They talk about the adjustments the New Jersey Devils will have to make with Jack Hughes out of the lineup and look ahead to this weekend's Hockey Hall of Fame inductions.

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network's EJ Hradek (17:16). EJ goes around the NHL to discuss what has caught his eye at the start of the season, including the team that has surprised him the most and the teams that have been the most disappointing. Plus, he dissects the front-office situation in Ottawa and looks at the Atlantic and Central Divisions. The guys start the episode discussing Pierre Dorion's departure from the Ottawa Senators and discuss the hockey world's reaction to Adam Johnson's tragic death and the potential of neck guard adoption in the NHL. They also discuss the NY Rangers finding structure under Peter Laviolette and Nicklas Backstrom stepping away from the Washington Capitals to deal with health issues.

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika (16:53) to talk about the Red Wings hot start, the revival of Alex Debrincat and his chemistry with Dylan Larkin. Plus, Nick talks about the Oilers poor start, the state of the Seattle Kraken and he looks ahead to this weekend's Heritage Classic. The guys start the episode looking back at Tuesday's Frozen Frenzy and dissecting the remaining undefeated teams in the NHL. They discuss the latest Super 16 and look at some of the surprises around the League, including the Philadelphia Flyers, the struggling Washington Capitals and why the Hurricanes are letting up so many goals.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska (15:44). Huska talks about the progress of the Flames, his first year behind the bench as the head coach, his memories of playing outdoors, the importance of the Battle of Alberta and his excitement for next week's Heritage Classic. Brian Slagel, the CEO of Metal Blade Records, sat down with Jack Eichel (38:00) to talk about his love of music, his favorite bands, his all-time favorite group and memories of his first concert. The guys look ahead to next week's Frozen Frenzy on ESPN, discuss the resurgence of the Detroit Red Wings and debate whether or not the Tampa Bay Lightning should be panicked about their shaky start. Plus, they talk about the pros and cons of a potential decentralized NHL Draft and look forward to Connor Bedard's first game in Chicago over the weekend.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Tage Thompson (39:01) and NHL.com's Derek Van Diest (14:17). The guys start with talk of Connor Bedard and his first two NHL games and the Stanley Cup championship banner raising ceremony in Las Vegas. They hit on the Sabres signing defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power to long-term contracts. Van Diest touches on the Jets signing forward Mark Scheifele and goalie Connor Hellebuyck to matching seven-year contracts and the the Edmonton Oilers struggles in their season-opener. The episode concludes with Rosen and Roarke giving a tribute to Barry Melrose, the former NHL coach and longtime analyst on ESPN who retired this week and announced he has Parkinson's Disease. NHL @TheRink is free and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms. It is also available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Leon Draisaitl (16:30). Draisaitl discusses the Oilers trying to bounce back from an early playoff exit last year, their mindset during training camp and the importance of starting off the season much better than last year. He chats about his relationship with Connor McDavid and discusses the pressure on the shoulders of the team's core to finally get to a Stanley Cup Final. The co-hosts break down each division, offering their predictions for who will make the playoffs and who will win the Stanley Cup. They both have the champion coming out of the Central Division. They also discussed Connor Bedard's chances of winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, and the Chicago Blackhawks 18-year-old center talking about himself and what he will face in his first NHL season can be heard on the episode. In addition, Rosen and Roarke broke down some of the news that came out of the NHL Board of Governors meeting this week.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Brady Tkachuk (16:04) and Matthew Tkachuk (40:30). Brady talks about his summer wedding, his excitement going into this season, the growth of his team and what he learned watching Matthew and the Panthers go on their run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. Matthew discussed the injury he sustained in the Stanley Cup Final and the pain he was in, the help he got from his brother in that time, but also Brady's bachelor party in Miami, and feeling a different vibe in the South Florida market after last season. Rosen and Roarke talked about the positive impact of the recently completed 2023 NHL Global Series -- Melbourne (2:00). They talked about the Senators and Panthers, and if the Tkachuk teams have what it takes to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season (9:00). They also gave opinions on Sidney Crosby's take that Connor McDavid could score 170 points in a season, and why that might not be a good thing for the Edmonton Oilers (32:00). And they offered some thoughts on the contract stalemate between the Anaheim Ducks and their two remaining restricted free agents, center Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (55:21).

Dan and Shawn are joined by Clayton Keller (15:53) and Jason Robertson (45:40). Keller talked about the Coyotes trip to Australia, mentoring Logan Cooley, his role as a leader with the Coyotes and the unique environment that Mullett Arena provides for players and fans alike. Robertson discussed about his journey to being a two-time 40-goal, touched on expectations for the Stars this season and spoke about running a hockey skills camp for kids living on the Fort Liberty base, formerly known as Fort Bragg, this summer. The guys discussed the task ahead for Pascal Vincent and the Columbus Blue Jackets, moving on from the short-lived Mike Babcock era. They reacted to Brayden Schenn being named of the St. Louis Blues and Brad Marchand getting the 'C' for the Boston Bruins. They gave predictions on how many goals Alex Ovechkin will score this season and offered their thoughts on Steven Stamkos and the potential for a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Dan and Shawn are back as the NHL season nears closer. They are joined by Aleksander Barkov (16:04) and Filip Gustavsson (45:30). The guys catch up on some major offseason storylines, including the Penguins trading for Erik Karlsson and the retirement of Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron (3:00). They chat about the hype around Connor Bedard (31:30) and discuss some other rookies that could propel themselves into the Calder Trophy conversation. The mailbag is opened up for the first time this season as the guys try to identify some under-the-radar teams that are in the mix to make the Playoffs (1:02:10). They also debate who is better positioned to disrupt the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres or the Ottawa Senators.

Dan and Shawn discussed everything from the impact of the moves already made to dissecting what could still happen, particularly with Erik Karlsson, Alex DeBrincat, Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele and Vladimir Tarasenko. They talked about the Toronto Maple Leafs and what appears to be yet another culture reset and they broke down the New York Rangers decision to sign right wing Blake Wheeler to a one-year deal. They celebrated and appreciated the shrewdness of the Vegas Golden Knights, who traded forward Reilly Smith, an original 'Misfit' who helped them win the Stanley Cup, to the Pittsburgh Penguins and they looked at potential suitors for Erik Karlsson.

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's and NHL Draft Class co-host Adam Kimelman to preview the NHL Draft (7:00). He covers the depth of this year's draft class, Connor Bedard's projected production as a rookie, Adam Fantilli's upside and sleepers. The guys start the episode discussing the Taylor Hall and Ryan Johansen trades (2:00). They wrap the episode talking about Erik Karlsson's desire to be traded from the Sharks and potential suitors for him. Plus, they wonder what Winnipeg will do with Connor Hellebuyck this offseason (32:00).

Dan and Shawn are joined by Daren Millard, a television and radio personality with the Golden Knights and host of "The Chirp with Daren Millard". Millard talked about the scene in the dressing room and Vegas captain Mark Stone bringing the Stanley Cup to all the team employees so they could take pictures with it and bask in the moment with the big trophy. He spoke about his own experience celebrating with the Cup, lifting it and taking a sip out of it. In addition, Millard talked about the Golden Knights run, how they got to become Stanley Cup champions. The podcast featured an interview Millard did with Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy (18:31). After the interview with Millard, Rosen and Roarke dove into some of the news and notes going on in the NHL as the offseason commences. They talked about the New York Rangers hiring Peter Laviolette as their new coach and if that moves the needle enough to make them a better team. They also discussed the New Jersey Devils signing Jesper Bratt to an eight-year, $63 million contract with the intention to sign forward Timo Meier to a long-term contract as well.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Brett Howden of the Vegas Golden Knights (14:34) to talk about his team's 2-0 advantage in the series, the journey he's been on, scoring two goals in a Stanley Cup Final game and sharing it with his family as a first time dad with his son born days before the playoffs began. He also talked about finding a consistent role with the Golden Knights, his thoughts on center Jack Eichel and the postseason he's having, and what he has learned from playing on the same line as Mark Stone. In addition, Rosen and Roarke gave their thoughts on the Cup Final, reasons why they do not think it will be a sweep and how the Panthers can get back into it after losing Games 1 and 2 in Las Vegas. They talked about the Panthers' need for better discipline and improved play in front of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. But on the flip side the co-hosts also discussed what has made the Golden Knights so good and why neither one of them can see them losing the series now. After the interview with Howden, Rosen and Roarke went into some of the NHL news outside of the Stanley Cup Final, including both praising the decision by the Anaheim Ducks to hire Greg Cronin and speculating on what type of coach Mike Babcock will be in his return to the NHL with reports linking him to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dan and Shawn are joined by Florida Panthers center Eric Staal (7:29) and Keith Jones, TNT analyst and the new president of the Philadelphia Flyers (32:23). Staal talks about his personal journey to this year's Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panther's incredible playoff run and the importance of Paul Maurice's steady hand this year. He also discusses what it would mean to win a Stanley Cup for his brother Marc Staal and handicaps the Vegas Golden Knights heading into Game 1 of the Final. Keith jones discusses his new role with the Flyers and breaks down the series as he sees it. He talks about Sergei Bobrovsky's reignition, Jack Eichel's ability to take over games and Matthew Tkachuk's grit and clutch gene. Dan and Shawn talk about the goalie matchup from every angle and why Adin Hill might be the best story of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (25:41). The guys wrap up the episode chatting about Brad Treliving being named the new GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators hiring Andrew Brunette as their new head coach, plus they make their final Stanley Cup predictions.

Dan and Shawn are joined by longtime hockey executive Brian Burke (13:55). Burke is currently an analyst for NHL Network so the guys peppered him with questions on both the Eastern and Western Conference Final and got some great answers on Matthew Tkachuk's ability to overcome "average" skating, Jack Eichel's unique skating style, Sergei Bobrovsky being "in the zone" and Jamie Benn's undisciplined play in Game 4. Plus, he shared his thoughts on the growth of the NHL in non traditional markets, the GM opening in Toronto, potential landing spots for Brad Treliving and how the size of the Vegas Golden Knights have impacted their opponents play. The guys opened up the episode talking about each Conference Final series and whether or not they believe the Dallas Stars or Carolina Hurricanes can overcome a 3-0 deficit. They wrapped the episode with some news and notes, including their reaction on Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs parting ways and the Calgary Flames hiring their new GM.

Dan and Shawn are joined by former Anaheim Ducks coach Dallas Eakins (9:20). Eakins previews both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals and looks at the most intriguing matchups and storylines surrounding each team. He shares who he thinks the best team remaining is and tries to handicap how the matchups will play out. The guys talk about what's next for the Toronto Maple Leafs (34:00) and Kyle Dubas. What changes are on the table for the Leafs ? Plus, they look at the Oilers disappointing loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and applaud the Seattle Kraken's season. Finally, they make their Conference Finals predictions.

Dan and Shawn were joined by longtime Carolina Hurricanes analyst Tripp Tracy (20:47). Tracy discussed the reasons why Jordan Martinook is having an offensive explosion throughout the playoffs and praised the defense being played by Jaccob Slavin. Plus, he lauded Rod Brind'Amour's coaching decisions, especially his decision to stick with Frederik Andersen for Game 4. He talks about a NYC train ride he took with Brind'Amour and provides a behind the scenes look on how the coach processes information and ultimately makes crucial decisions that have so far worked well for the Canes coach. The guys start the episode talking about the fallout that will come if the Maple Leafs lost in the second round to the Florida Panthers and had a debate on who should be considered the best player in the world right now, Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. After the Tracey interview, the guys tossed around some ideas for who could be the next coach of the New York Rangers and Rosen and Roarke both talked about how expectations for the Chicago Blackhawks next season should not change just because they won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery and the right to pick Connor Bedard.