December 10, 2025 • 28 mins
The Hockey Booth is back, and this week’s episode is a full-ice sprint through a league in chaos, crunch time, and controversy. The guys open out West, where the Buffalo Sabres shock the Oilers with a 4–3 overtime stunner in Edmonton after Connor McDavid forces extra time with two seconds left. From a missed icing that has Lindy Ruff fuming, to another confusing glove-pass ruling, they dig into how vague NHL officiating is directly changing results in the standings. From there, it’s more late-game heartbreak as Anaheim steals two points from Pittsburgh on a shorthanded goal with 0.1 seconds left and a shootout dagger, all while the Penguins stumble without Evgeni Malkin. In the Pacific, the Kings are rolling through their moms’ trip with textbook road wins, suffocating third-period defense, and a perfect record when leading after two. The crew contrasts that with an ugly flashpoint in Minnesota–Seattle, breaking down Vince Dunn’s massive hit on Mats Zuccarello and what it reveals about the league’s ongoing struggle to balance legal physicality and genuine player safety. That naturally leads into a wider look at the “roster carousel” across the NHL: Buffalo’s growing injury list, the Rangers’ life without Adam Fox, Boston’s brutal Charlie McAvoy story and David Pastrňák’s return, Chicago’s development decisions with Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, and fresh debuts and depth moves in Philadelphia. Then it’s time to zoom out to the league-wide picture. Colorado’s historic start, Dallas’ high-octane push in the Central, and Detroit’s surge atop the Atlantic all get the spotlight—along with the Grand Rapids Griffins’ record AHL opening and Sebastian Cossa’s rise. The hosts spend real time on San Jose’s teenage phenom Macklin Celebrini, whose involvement in half of the Sharks’ goals and ridiculous micro-stats have him legitimately in the Hart Trophy conversation at just 19. From there, the show shifts to the global stage and the looming 2026 Olympics in Milan. The NHL’s hard line on ice safety, arena construction deadlines, and a smaller, more physical rink surface are all shaping how GMs think about their rosters. Team USA’s injury-riddled depth chart, Jason Robertson’s polarizing case, and the youth vs. experience debate on the blue line go under the microscope, as do Canada’s size-heavy defense plans, goaltending questions, and the roles of stars like Bedard and Celebrini. Sweden, Finland, and others are also feeling the strain of injuries and thin NHL depth. To close, the hosts step off the ice and into the culture of the sport: the anonymous NHL players’ poll and its “most punchable face” drama, a warning about how lazy AI-driven stat checking can mislead fans and writers, and the power of nostalgia—from Hershey’s vintage jerseys to a likely Nordiques throwback night in Montreal. They wrap with Bruce Boudreau’s praise of Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of 1,000 goals and Vegas’ ruthless front-office overhaul to ask one big question: is organizational culture the true engine of playoff success, or just an intriguing footnote to raw talent? It’s a packed, fast-moving episode that blends game breakdowns, injuries, history, analytics, and Olympic intrigue—perfect for anyone trying to make sense of a season where every shift seems to matter.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the Hockey booth. We have a lot
to get into today. The calendars flipping, those Olympic roster
deadlines are getting closer and closer, and the NHL schedule
has just been absolutely packed.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It really has. We've seen some late game heroics, some
let's say, baffling officiating decisions, and a ton of injury
news that's really starting to reshape things.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, it feels like we're hitting that crucial part of
the season. So we're going to break down the last
few days of action, starting with some serious on ice drama.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
And a lot of that dramas coming out of the
Western Conference. A couple of massive upsets, some teams just
completely defying what we thought they'd be. It's fascinating, really
how thin some rosters are because of injuries, right, and
you see how that lack of depth plays out against
the league's top talent. It forces coaches into some really
desperate and sometimes brilliant decisions.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, let's start right there in Edmonton, because that's a
perfect example. The Buffalo Sabers, a team that was what
two to eight to two away from home before this,
they pull off a sh shocking four to three overtime
win against the Oilers, and.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
It was Alex's touch just thirty three seconds into the
extra period, a huge, rare road win for Buffalo that
I think really throws a wrench into the Oiler's momentum
they were trying to build.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
It was such a strange game to watch though, I
felt like two completely different contests smashed into one.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It really did almost schizophrenic. For the first two periods,
the Oilers looked I think one report called them inexcusably tepid,
and that's the right word for it, just flat, yeah,
like they were skating with cement in their boots, just lifeless,
and for a team with Stanley Cup hopes, that's that's
just not acceptable. Then, of course, the third period happens.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And that potent Oiler's offense just roars.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
To life, exactly three goals in the final frame to
force overtime. It was incredible to watch, but you had
to feel for the Sabers in that moment.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Oh absolutely, because the gut punch moment, of course, was
Connor McDavid tying the game with only two seconds left
in regulation, and.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
That McDavid goal it comes with this massive controversial asterisk
connects to it right. Sabers coach Lindy Ruff was just
boiling about it in the postgame press.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Conference, as he should have been.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, that goal was directly set up by a pretty
clearly missed icing call just seconds before the puck ended.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Up in the net, and Roff wasn't just mad about
that one non call. He sort of brought into his
criticism to the vagueness of NHL officiating in general. He
brought up a Sabers goal that was disallowed earlier, right
the glove pass.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
He was questioning, what even constitutes a legal glove pass
or a hand pass anymore?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's so ambiguous, it is.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
The problem with that rule is that it asks the
officials to judge intent and momentum, not just you know
where the puck went. If a player deflects a puck
to himself, is he passing it or is it just
a deflection?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And it puts players in a tough spot, It puts
the refs in a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And Rough is just the latest high profile coach to
point out that this ambiguity is like actively affecting game outcomes.
It puts a team like the Sabers at a disadvantage
in a key moment.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And that victory, even with the controversy, was so important
for Buffalo because they are just dealing with a ton
of injuries right now. It's really challenging their depth.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You're right. They just put Jason Zucker on injured reserve,
lower body injury. He went into the boards really awkwardly
in that game against Calgary, and he's a.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Key piece for them, tied for third on the team in.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Goals I think, yeah, nine goals, Yeah, and his eighteen
points or fifth. Losing him is a huge blow, especially
with his net front presence. Yeah, So to fill that gap,
they've recalled Easick.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Rosen, who's been solid when he's been up.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Very solid, three goals forrests in ten games with Buffalo
this year. A good replacement, but you're still missing Zucker's physicality.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And then just a pile on. Josh Norris was a
late scratch for that Edmonton game. Illness and soreness after
warm ups, just a rough string of health issues.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
But they still managed to pull out the win with
pure grit. It just proves that even a team struggling
on their road can steal one against a powerhouse like Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, let's move a little further south Pacific Division, the
Anaheim Ducks had their own bit of late game magic,
beating the Penguins four to three in a shootout.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And this was a totally different kind of heartbreak for Pittsburgh.
I mean, they were so.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Close, fractions of a second away from a regulation win.
Beckett Seneca scores a shorthanded goal with just zero point
one tenth of a second left on the clock. Unbelievable
to execute that shorthanded and get the puck in the
net with literally no time left. I mean that points
to a fundamental breakdown for the Penguins in clock management,
in defensive desperation, everything.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And then Leo Carlson, who's been having this quietly fantastic season,
he seals the win for Anaheim in the shootout, and.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
That loss has to really sting for Pittsburgh because there's
a clear pattern here. They are now zero and four
in shootouts this season.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
The tiebreaker lottery is not their friend in in a
tight Eastern Conference. That's costing them vital points.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And to add insult to injury, this all happened while
they were missing a massive piece of their lineup. If
Genny Malkin sidelined with an upper body injury. Now on ir, when.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
You lose a playmaker like Mel, you lose the guy
who can manage the puck, who can create those clean
zone entries. That's exactly what you need in overtime or
a shootout. His absence was just palpable in those last seconds.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Definitely. Meanwhile, the La Kings are just they're riding a
very smooth, disciplined wave of momentum right now.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
A huge six year shoutout Againt Chicago, and then they
followed it up with a really solid four to two
win over the Utah Mammoth. This is a team that
just knows how to manage a game.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
That game against Utah was like a textbook example of
their road strategy. Utah started so sluggishly and bang they're
down two out.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And Kevin Fiella was a big part of that early push.
Two assists on those first two goals brought his point
total to twenty one for the season, and Joel Armia
eventually got the empty netter to seal it his second
of the night.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Utah did try to make a game of it, though
they showed some fight, got a power play goal from
Gunther and then Clayton Keller scored his tenth to give
them some life.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But that's where the King's defense, which is so underrated,
just shines. They just shut the door. They snuff out
high danger chances and their record when they're leading after
two periods is now, what a perfect nine e to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
That's not luck, that's a tactical commitment. They shift into
a totally different defensive style in the third. It's all
about shop blocking, clogging up the neutral zone and forcing
everything to the outside. They are masters of game management.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And you have to talk about the culture around the
Kings right now, which might be a part of this.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
They're on their mom's trip right and the players and
coaches are absolutely raving about it, and it's.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
More than just a fun little trip. Coach Jim Hiller
mentioned that the moms get to see the entire routine,
the brutal reality of life on the road.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
The late night flights, the hotel check ins.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Exactly the good and the challenging parts. As he put it,
it really humanizes the grind of an eighty two game season.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And you can't argue with the results. Right, they're two
to zero on the trip so.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Far, Well, you can't say the moms are scoring goals.
That positive energy, that shared experience, It definitely fuels momentum.
It has to break up the monotony of a long
road trip.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, So speaking of things that can alter the course
of a season in a split second, we have to
talk about that hit in the Minnesota Seattle game.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Oh yeah, the wild one four to one, But that
was not the story. The story was the massive hit
by Vince Dunn on Mattzucarello.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
In the first period, and Zigarrilla was on a tear.
He had like twelve points in his last fourteen games.
He gets absolutely leveled by Done. The impact was just visceral.
You could see his head snapped back, and the.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Refs on the ice immediately gave Done a major penalty.
But then after review, they all got together, talked to
the league office, and the call.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Was reversed to a clean legal hit, which is where.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
The league's whole struggle with player safety and legal physicality
comes right into focus. The fan reaction was completely divided.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
It tells you everything when even experienced fans can't agree
on where the line is exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
You had one group saying great hit, all shoulder elbow tucked,
you know, the whole checklist, But then the other side
was saying nothing clean about that. He caught him on
the chin, which is attached to his head.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And at the end of the day, whether it was
technically legal or not, Zugerillo didn't return to the game.
That's the critical.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Point, right Wild coach John Hines gave a positive update, thankfully.
He said he was just thankful that Zuxy's in a
good spot right now, but his status for the next
game is unclear. It's a huge reminder of how one
controversial hit can change everything for a team.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And that actually leads us perfectly into our next segment,
which is all about that roster carousel, injuries, recalls, and
how all these moves are shaping team identities right now. Mmmm,
let's start with the New York Rangers. They're dealing with
the massive loss of their all star defenseman Adam Fox.
He's out indefinitely with an upper body injury, and his
absence just craters their power play.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
It's impossible to replace what he does. He's the quarterback
on that power play, the one who directs everything, makes
those perfect cross eyes passes, his ability to walk the
blue line is just elite.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
So to compensate, they're really focusing on tightening up their
five on five team defense.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And a big part of that has been Slava Gavrikov.
He's really stepped up as this solid, two way, stabilizing presence.
It's all about takeaways and controlled zonix. It's not high
risk offense.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
But what's really keeping the Rangers in the thick of
it is their emerging forward depth, specifically that crash line
with Will Kyle, Noah Laba and Brett Berard.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Management loves them. You hear whispers that they want that
line to stay together all season as like a tone
setting high energy for checking unit, and Kyle.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
In particular is really showing why they have such high
hopes for him. He's on track for a second straight
twenty goal season.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Sixteen points in thirty one games so far, and what's
crucial about his game, especially for young guy, is how
efficient he is from in close a close range sharpshooter.
Last season, I think fourteen of his twenty goals were
from right in the dirty areas.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Which is a skill you usually see in season veterans,
not a sophomore, and that's why people are starting to
see him as the potential heir to chreas Schreider's net
front role for the road.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Absolutely, he brings that physicality and NetFront presence that their
offense is built on. But we also have to look
at the other young guys in their system, like Matt Rumpey,
the fan favorite enforcer. He's nearing a return from that
lengthy injury he got in a fight. On the flip side,
you have a top prospect like Brennan Hoffman who was
just recalled.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well, then he didn't dress for any of the three
games he was up for, and.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That sends a message, doesn't it. If you call up
a top prospect during a busy week and he just
sits in the press box, it suggests they feel he
needs a lot more time in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Or you know, maybe they're showcasing him for potential trade
could be.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Meanwhile, over in Boston, the Bruins are finally starting to
get some of their big guns back, and the story
of one of them is just it's brutal.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Charlie McAvoy, the ordeal he went through after taking that
slapshot to the face on November fifteenth, it's a painful
reminder of how dangerous.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
The sport is linear fracture to the left side of
his face. He lost several bottom teeth and he was
on a liquid diet for six weeks just to let
the bone heal.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
We lost twenty pounds initially. That's a massive physical and
mental hurdle to get over. But he's nearing a return now,
which is great to hear.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
It really contextualizes the speed and danger of the game.
McAvoy logs almost twenty four minutes a night for them,
and the fact that the Bruins managed to stay above
water without him in Pasternak is a huge testament to
their depth.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
And speaking of Pasternak, their leading scorer. He made a
surprise return in that five to two win over the Blues.
Logged two assists. But the most interesting thing from that
game wasn't his points. It was the.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Lineup coach Marco Sterm's lineup decision. It seemed almost chaotic
on paper.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
He put Pasternak, their superstar, on the third line, alongside
Mark Stellic and Fraser Minton, which.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Was a shocker because it broke up a third line
that Sturm had been praising for over a month. But
he just said he went with his gut, you know,
to use the new depth he had from all the
returning players, and.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
The gut move paved off instantly. Minton and Castelic both
scored two goals each, four goals from that line.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It's a great example of how a deep, adaptable roster
can handle those kinds of situations. It also keeps Passernack
from facing top defensive pairings right away while as getting
his legs back. Smart coaching, And.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Before we leave Boston, we should give a quick nod
to a veteran who is leaving the league. Craig Smith
announced his retirement after fourteen seasons.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
A very solid career, nine hundred and eighty seven games,
A dependable two way forward who had some really productive
years in Boston.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Definitely, okay, let's shift to the Chicago Blackhawks. The focus
there is all about development, and it seems like they're
making a bit of a strategic shift.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
A big one. They sent two young prospects land and
Slaggered and first round are Sam Rinsel down to Rockford
in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And this move is all about one thing, ice time,
getting them critical, high leverage minutes.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Especially for Rinzl, his usage had slipped to under fourteen
minutes a game, and the goal, according to the coach,
is for him to go down and get his swagger
with the puck back.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Sometimes that's the best thing for a young player's confidence.
Let them go dominate at a lower level for a.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Bit, right, And they also noted that Rinzel isn't the
strongest physically yet, so in the AHL, the directive is
for him to work on his defensive stick play, learning
how to separate guys from the puck without getting into
those pure strength battles.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And to fill the roster spot, they called up the
veteran journeyman Dominic Tonanado.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
A low risk, dependable option. But the recall also signals
a key tactical shift for Chicago. They're finally going back
to a traditional twelve forward, six defenceman lineup.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
That's huge. They were adjusting seven defencemen in what twenty
six of their first twenty nine games.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, playing seventy to eleven f as a sort of
injury insurance and to manage the minutes for their ricky demon.
Moving back to a traditional alignment means guys like Murphy
and Crivier will see bigger roles and all.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
This talk of ricky defencemen. It just highlights how impressive
Ardemolishinoff has been. His teammates talk about the hilarious contrast
between how calm he is and how much risk he
takes on the ice.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Connorbridard said his heart rate has to be like twenty
five or thirty during the game.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
That's a great quote.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
It is. Another defenseman, Connor Murphy said there were times
when everyone on the bench panics, and then he's not
at all. He has this incredible ability to wheel around
his own net under pressure, draw in the fore check
and then make a perfect stretch pass. That's a skill
very few rookies have.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
We're seeing similar depth being tested over in Philadelphia too.
Ty Murchison, a fifth round pick from twenty twenty one,
just made his NHL debut and.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
He's a physical, shut down kind of guy. He was
apparently extremely emotional about getting the opportunity, which is always
great to see. He's really jumped up their depth chart
in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
This year, and just quickly. The Flyers also made a
minor trade, sending Ethan Samson to Tampa for Roman Schmidt
and circling back to the Penguins that Malkin injury, placing
him on IR is a really serious blow for them
right now.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well off of those height late game situations we were
just talking about exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Okay, So when we step back and look at the
whole league, separating the injuries from the pure talent, some
teams are just operating on another place planet right now.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Which brings us right to the Colorado Avalanche.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Their dominance has been historical, it really has.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
They have the best record in hockey at twenty one,
two and six, a league leading plus forty eight goal
differential and a ridiculous fifty nine point eighty one percent
expected goal share. That tells you they are just systematically
controlling games.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And here's the context that makes it truly staggering. Colorado
is only the third team in NHL history to have
just two regulation losses through their first twenty nine games.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
The only others were the seventy nine eighty Flyers and
the twenty twelve thirteen Blackhawks. That is truly rarefied air.
They're just crushing opponents.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
But the Central Division race is still tight, which says
a lot about the West. The Dallas Stars are right
there nipping at.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Their heels, and Dallas is meeting their high expectations. They've
already got three players with over thirty four points. The
pressure is really on them to finally translate that regular
season success into a deep playoff run.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Now over in the East, the Detroit Red Wings are
a huge story. They've been a major riser in the Atlantic.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
After that four to zero shutout in Vancouver, they actually
moved into first place in that division. Their point streak
is now at five.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Games, and the big shift for Detroit is tied directly
to their goaltending. John Gibson is starting to look like
his old self again.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
He's won three straight posted that shut out.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
He just looks calmer and net more confident, and that
stability splitting time with Camp Talbot has been.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Huge for them, and that success is running deep through
their whole organization. You have to mention the AHL Grand
Rapids Griffins. Their start has been unprecedented.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Nineteen one in a one. That's the third best start
in the ninety year history of the AHL Wow and
it's being driven by their goalie prospect, Sebastian Cosa, who
has a stellar record, but the organization seems committed to
letting him develop in the minors, which is a sign
of a really smart, patient, long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Speaking of rising stars who are driving their teams, we
have to spend some real time on the San Jose
Sharks teenage phenomenon. Macklin's Celebrini. He's putting together a legitimate
heart trophy case at nineteen years old on a team
that's in the middle of a massive rebuild.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And that heart conversation is completely justified by one just
jaw dropping stat that shows his incredible impact. Celebrini has
been involved in an NHL high fifty percent of the
Shark's keen goals this season.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Fifty percent in modern hockey with balance scoring, that is
just it's staggering.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It is the only other players in the modern era
the top fifty percent for season are Gretzky, Lemieux, McDavid,
and Jagger. That's the company he's keeping, That's the way
he's caring for that roster.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
In the microstats, they show he's a true six tool player.
He influences every single part of the game.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Let's break it down. Start with his tenacity. He leads
all NHL forwards and puck battle wins at nineteen. He's
just taking the puck from season veterans.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And you know he's earning respect when a guy like
Brad Marshan calls him a dog. That's high praise from
a master agitator exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
And he's not just off he's defensively engaged. Ranks fourth
in the league in peck deflections. He's constantly disrupting passing
lanes with an active stick.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
His quickness and anticipation show up in the numbers too.
He's fifth in puck recoveries. He doesn't just win the
puck back, he transitions immediately to offense.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Then you look at his creativity sixth and successful zone entries,
seventh in slot passes. He isn't just a shooter. He's
manufacturing chances for his entire line.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
And here's the last detail that proves how relentless he is.
He leads all forwards and penalties drawn. He is forcing
opponents to cheat because they can't legally contain him. He's
an absolute force.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
An incredible talent. Now, on the topic of major players returning,
we need to talk about Connor Hellibike and the Winnipeg Jets.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
The Jets have had a really disappointing start. They got
a Grade D in some recent reports, and Hellabike's absence
has just exposed all the flaws in that roster.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That grade is deserved. Hellabike is one of those elite
goalies who can mask a lot of systemic defensive issues.
Without him, we've seen a huge regression in their defensive coverage.
The secondary scoring has also completely dried up.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
The good news, though, is that he's tracking his return
in days, not weeks after his knee surgery right.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
He was practicing specific goalie movements this week, which is
a huge step. That's highly, highly unlikely he plays this weekend,
but he could be back in the crease for the
Jets as soon as next.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Week, and that timing is critical not just for Winnipeg's
playoff hopes, but for the international stage. His status is
one of the big question marks surrounding the twenty twenty
six Winter Olympics in Milan.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Which is a perfect place to turn our focus next.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Okay, let's pivot to the global stage, because there are
some really serious logistical and frankly safety concerns overshadowing the
twenty twenty six Olympics, specifically the ice.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
The NHL issued an absolutely firm ultimatum at the Board
of Governor's Meetings Bill Daily, the w commissioner said, I'm
quoting here. If the league's players feel the quality of
the ice at the Olympics in Milan is unsafe, then
we're not going to play. It's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Wow, that is a non negotiable line in the sand.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
It is, and the logistical stress is just immense. The
main hockey arena is scheduled to be finished on February second,
The women's tournament starts three days later, the men start
on February eleventh.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
That is, that is no wiggle room, very little.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Wiggle room, as Daily put it, and those arenas will
be hosting three games a day for almost three weeks straight.
The ice surface is going to be challenged constantly.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
So the NHL is sending their own.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
People exactly, They're sending their own ice experts and technicians
to Milan to help ensure the conditions are acceptable for
NHL athletes. It says a lot that the league feels
it needs to do that.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
And beyond the safety, there's the size issue. The rink
is smaller than NHL standard, right.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
It's about four feet shorter and a tiny bit wider.
But that four feet of missing length is the key.
It compresses the neutral zone, speeds up the transition game,
and forces quicker decisions, and.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
It makes the games more physical.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
That's what Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong is no noted.
Less room to skate means more contact. So teams are
already thinking about building rosters with more size and grit.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
So let's get into those roster debates. Starting with Team USA.
They are dealing with a laundry list of major injury concerns.
Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, Matthew T, Chuck Jack Hughes, Jacob
slaven Connor, Hello Bike.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
It's an all star team of question marks. The current
projection may be a bit optimistically assumes they'll all be
healthy and available. But even then, there's the huge debate
around Jason Robertson.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
His production is just undeniable since remember fifth, nobody has
more goals. He's making a compelling case on the scoreesheet he.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Is, and proponents argue he gives Team USA another elite
scorer and a big body, which is crucial for that
smaller ice. But the critics point to his skating and
his two a play right.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The defensive details back checking, minimizing turnovers.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Exactly, and Team USAGM Bill garn basically said it could
come down to fit. If they need a pure scoring
power forward Roberts, if they need a dynamic two way center,
he might be the odd man out.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
And that same debate is happening on their blue line.
Do you go with established veterans like John Carlson, who's
been incredibly consistent, or do you embrace.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
The youth movement players like Lane Hudson, Luke Hughes, Jackson Lacom,
guys who are logging heavy minutes right now and bring
a ton of speed at the back end. It's a
tough choice.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
King Canada is facing a similar dilemma youth versus experience.
How do you fit young stars like Connor Bdard and
maclen Celabrini alongside your proven Cup winning veterans.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And because of that smaller ice, they are putting a
clear emphasis on size on defense. Their projected roster has
five d man over six foot two. They're prioritizing muscle
and reach, especially with Alex Piatangelo out with that hip injury.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Goaltending is still a question mark for them too. Jordan
Binnington is projected to be one of the three, and
he's been talking about trying to control his inner world
to make the team.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
And he's a guy who thrives in those high pressure,
single elimination tournaments. He led the Blues to the Cup
in Canada to the FOREIG Nations title. You can't count
them out.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
And just briefly, other countries are dealing with this too.
Sweding is waiting on William Carlson's injury status, and Finland's
depth is being really challenged by a lack of consistent
NHL production from their players, to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
The point where they might have to look at finish
players who aren't even in the NHL to round out
their roster. It just highlights how much these injuries and
depth issues are affecting every team heading into the tournament.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Okay, speaking of culture and how teams operate, let's shift
gears a bit to some of the off ice stories
and media narratives that have been making waves. Starting with
an annual tradition that always sparks a lot of debate.
The anonymous NHL players pull and we have.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
To start with the best category, the most punishable face.
It's always entertaining and it really reveals the league's unofficial agitator, Hierarchy.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
The winner this year, with twenty four point three percent
of the vote was Ottawa's Nick Cousins. He just edged
out Brad Marshawn and somehow Matthew Chichuk came in third, which.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Is mind boggling because Trekachuk hasn't even played this season.
That just tells you everything you need to know about
having an established reputation in this league.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
And the anonymous quotes from the players are perfect for Cousins.
One player said I can't stand him. I heard he's
a good guy, but I'd still love to punch him
in the face.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Marshand, of course, was just called a little rat and
Kalakuchuk was labeled an a hole in front of the net.
It perfectly captures their play styles.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
What's really notable, though, is who's missing from the list.
Tom Wilson, who topped the poll two years ago, didn't
even appear.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
This year, and their speculation that his response back then
joking that he'd probably punch that guy in the face too,
was maybe just menacing enough to keep him off the list, or.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It could be that his game has legitimately evolved. He's
fighting way less than he used to. He's becoming more
of a pure power forward than just an enforcer.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
It seems like he's intentionally trying to adjust that reputation.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Now, let's talk about stats and the information age, because
there's a real warning out there that artificial intelligence is
making sports fans and writers quote lazy and stupid.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
This is a really critical point for anyone who follows sports.
The problem is that AI relies on credible human sources
to learn, but when those humans start relying on AI
for their facts, any errors just get recycled over and
over again.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
There is a great case study on this. A reader
email to writer confidently stating, thanks to chat GPT that
thirty five percent of NHL games go to overtime, and.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The actual number is closer to twenty twenty five percent.
That's a massive error, but the AI presents it as
absolute fact.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
But the best example was when they tried to use
AI to verify Logan Cooley's point total. The AI just
struggled immensely. It kept mixing in playoff stats from other players,
It generated useless estimates.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
It went through an eight minute loop of corrections and
still couldn't get it right. Yeah, It proves that for specific, nuanced,
constantly updating sports stats, you still need that human verification.
AI just can't handle the dynamic reality of any season yet.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You have to look it up yourself or trust human
experts who can check the sources exactly. Okay, shifting to
something a little more fun in nostalgic, We saw a
great throwback event in the AHL this week.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yes, the Hershey Bears were their vintage skating bear jerseys
from the nineteen seventies and the fan response just shows
the power of those legacy logos.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
It was a huge success, record attendance of over eighty
nine hundred fans and the game warn jerseys were auctioned
off for big money. One went for twenty six hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
It shows how much that heritage means to the local community.
And there's a spectacular NHL connection coming up. Joe zekk
confirmed that the Colorado Avalanche are very likely to wear
their Quebec Nordik's retro jerseys for their game in Montreal
on January twenty ninth.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
That is going to be incredible. The powder blue Nordik's
jersey against the Classic Canadians red a perfect throwback matchup.
It just proves that nostalgia is a huge driver for
the sport.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
It really is. It shows that for a lot of fans,
the deepest connection is historical.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Okay, so we have covered a ton of ground today,
from Buffalo's upset and the officiating controversies to the Olympic
Ice crisis and the statistical marvel that is Maclin Selabrini, and.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
The key takeaways for you the listener really center on
depth and culture. The Olympic ice situation is a genuine
threat to NHL participation and Celebrini's dominance, especially in those microstats,
proves he is a truly elite generational talent.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
And those play to development moves. We talked about sending
prospects to the AHL using depth line strategically, it shows
that the path success is paved by internal growth, not
just big acquisitions.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
So what does this all mean for the big picture?
Let's end on the idea of organizational culture. We heard
Bruce Boudreau talking about Alex Ovechkin, who might actually pursue
one thousand goals incredible, and Boudreau praised him not just
for scoring, but for fostering a winning environment for twenty seasons.
He called him a big kid who created an atmosphere
(27:56):
that was second to none.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And you can contrast that with the Vegas Golden Knights.
They're undergoing a huge restructuring of their business operations right now.
They're taking the same never satisfied approach they use on
their roster and applying it to their front office.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Exactly, they won a Stanley Cup, but instead of resting,
they are ruthlessly optimizing their entire organization, trading out business
leaders just like they'd trade an underperforming player. Their culture
is continuous, cold blooded improvement.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Which leaves us with a question for you to think about.
Can organizational culture, everything from the front office strategy to
the team captain's demeanor, Can that truly be the ultimate
driving force behind playoff success? Or is all that just
a fascinating footnote to the raw talent on the ice.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
It's something to consider as we head into the second
half of the season, food for thought. Indeed, we'll see
next time here at the Hockey Booth.
Welcome back to the Hockey booth. We have a lot
to get into today. The calendars flipping, those Olympic roster
deadlines are getting closer and closer, and the NHL schedule
has just been absolutely packed.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It really has. We've seen some late game heroics, some
let's say, baffling officiating decisions, and a ton of injury
news that's really starting to reshape things.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, it feels like we're hitting that crucial part of
the season. So we're going to break down the last
few days of action, starting with some serious on ice drama.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
And a lot of that dramas coming out of the
Western Conference. A couple of massive upsets, some teams just
completely defying what we thought they'd be. It's fascinating, really
how thin some rosters are because of injuries, right, and
you see how that lack of depth plays out against
the league's top talent. It forces coaches into some really
desperate and sometimes brilliant decisions.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, let's start right there in Edmonton, because that's a
perfect example. The Buffalo Sabers, a team that was what
two to eight to two away from home before this,
they pull off a sh shocking four to three overtime
win against the Oilers, and.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
It was Alex's touch just thirty three seconds into the
extra period, a huge, rare road win for Buffalo that
I think really throws a wrench into the Oiler's momentum
they were trying to build.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
It was such a strange game to watch though, I
felt like two completely different contests smashed into one.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It really did almost schizophrenic. For the first two periods,
the Oilers looked I think one report called them inexcusably tepid,
and that's the right word for it, just flat, yeah,
like they were skating with cement in their boots, just lifeless,
and for a team with Stanley Cup hopes, that's that's
just not acceptable. Then, of course, the third period happens.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And that potent Oiler's offense just roars.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
To life, exactly three goals in the final frame to
force overtime. It was incredible to watch, but you had
to feel for the Sabers in that moment.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Oh absolutely, because the gut punch moment, of course, was
Connor McDavid tying the game with only two seconds left
in regulation, and.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
That McDavid goal it comes with this massive controversial asterisk
connects to it right. Sabers coach Lindy Ruff was just
boiling about it in the postgame press.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Conference, as he should have been.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, that goal was directly set up by a pretty
clearly missed icing call just seconds before the puck ended.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Up in the net, and Roff wasn't just mad about
that one non call. He sort of brought into his
criticism to the vagueness of NHL officiating in general. He
brought up a Sabers goal that was disallowed earlier, right
the glove pass.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
He was questioning, what even constitutes a legal glove pass
or a hand pass anymore?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
It's so ambiguous, it is.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
The problem with that rule is that it asks the
officials to judge intent and momentum, not just you know
where the puck went. If a player deflects a puck
to himself, is he passing it or is it just
a deflection?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And it puts players in a tough spot, It puts
the refs in a tough spot.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And Rough is just the latest high profile coach to
point out that this ambiguity is like actively affecting game outcomes.
It puts a team like the Sabers at a disadvantage
in a key moment.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And that victory, even with the controversy, was so important
for Buffalo because they are just dealing with a ton
of injuries right now. It's really challenging their depth.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You're right. They just put Jason Zucker on injured reserve,
lower body injury. He went into the boards really awkwardly
in that game against Calgary, and he's a.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Key piece for them, tied for third on the team in.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Goals I think, yeah, nine goals, Yeah, and his eighteen
points or fifth. Losing him is a huge blow, especially
with his net front presence. Yeah, So to fill that gap,
they've recalled Easick.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Rosen, who's been solid when he's been up.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Very solid, three goals forrests in ten games with Buffalo
this year. A good replacement, but you're still missing Zucker's physicality.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And then just a pile on. Josh Norris was a
late scratch for that Edmonton game. Illness and soreness after
warm ups, just a rough string of health issues.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
But they still managed to pull out the win with
pure grit. It just proves that even a team struggling
on their road can steal one against a powerhouse like Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Okay, let's move a little further south Pacific Division, the
Anaheim Ducks had their own bit of late game magic,
beating the Penguins four to three in a shootout.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And this was a totally different kind of heartbreak for Pittsburgh.
I mean, they were so.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Close, fractions of a second away from a regulation win.
Beckett Seneca scores a shorthanded goal with just zero point
one tenth of a second left on the clock. Unbelievable
to execute that shorthanded and get the puck in the
net with literally no time left. I mean that points
to a fundamental breakdown for the Penguins in clock management,
in defensive desperation, everything.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And then Leo Carlson, who's been having this quietly fantastic season,
he seals the win for Anaheim in the shootout, and.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
That loss has to really sting for Pittsburgh because there's
a clear pattern here. They are now zero and four
in shootouts this season.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
The tiebreaker lottery is not their friend in in a
tight Eastern Conference. That's costing them vital points.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And to add insult to injury, this all happened while
they were missing a massive piece of their lineup. If
Genny Malkin sidelined with an upper body injury. Now on ir, when.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
You lose a playmaker like Mel, you lose the guy
who can manage the puck, who can create those clean
zone entries. That's exactly what you need in overtime or
a shootout. His absence was just palpable in those last seconds.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Definitely. Meanwhile, the La Kings are just they're riding a
very smooth, disciplined wave of momentum right now.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
A huge six year shoutout Againt Chicago, and then they
followed it up with a really solid four to two
win over the Utah Mammoth. This is a team that
just knows how to manage a game.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
That game against Utah was like a textbook example of
their road strategy. Utah started so sluggishly and bang they're
down two out.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And Kevin Fiella was a big part of that early push.
Two assists on those first two goals brought his point
total to twenty one for the season, and Joel Armia
eventually got the empty netter to seal it his second
of the night.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Utah did try to make a game of it, though
they showed some fight, got a power play goal from
Gunther and then Clayton Keller scored his tenth to give
them some life.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But that's where the King's defense, which is so underrated,
just shines. They just shut the door. They snuff out
high danger chances and their record when they're leading after
two periods is now, what a perfect nine e to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
That's not luck, that's a tactical commitment. They shift into
a totally different defensive style in the third. It's all
about shop blocking, clogging up the neutral zone and forcing
everything to the outside. They are masters of game management.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And you have to talk about the culture around the
Kings right now, which might be a part of this.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
They're on their mom's trip right and the players and
coaches are absolutely raving about it, and it's.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
More than just a fun little trip. Coach Jim Hiller
mentioned that the moms get to see the entire routine,
the brutal reality of life on the road.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
The late night flights, the hotel check ins.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Exactly the good and the challenging parts. As he put it,
it really humanizes the grind of an eighty two game season.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And you can't argue with the results. Right, they're two
to zero on the trip so.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Far, Well, you can't say the moms are scoring goals.
That positive energy, that shared experience, It definitely fuels momentum.
It has to break up the monotony of a long
road trip.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, So speaking of things that can alter the course
of a season in a split second, we have to
talk about that hit in the Minnesota Seattle game.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Oh yeah, the wild one four to one, But that
was not the story. The story was the massive hit
by Vince Dunn on Mattzucarello.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
In the first period, and Zigarrilla was on a tear.
He had like twelve points in his last fourteen games.
He gets absolutely leveled by Done. The impact was just visceral.
You could see his head snapped back, and the.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Refs on the ice immediately gave Done a major penalty.
But then after review, they all got together, talked to
the league office, and the call.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Was reversed to a clean legal hit, which is where.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
The league's whole struggle with player safety and legal physicality
comes right into focus. The fan reaction was completely divided.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
It tells you everything when even experienced fans can't agree
on where the line is exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
You had one group saying great hit, all shoulder elbow tucked,
you know, the whole checklist, But then the other side
was saying nothing clean about that. He caught him on
the chin, which is attached to his head.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
And at the end of the day, whether it was
technically legal or not, Zugerillo didn't return to the game.
That's the critical.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Point, right Wild coach John Hines gave a positive update, thankfully.
He said he was just thankful that Zuxy's in a
good spot right now, but his status for the next
game is unclear. It's a huge reminder of how one
controversial hit can change everything for a team.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And that actually leads us perfectly into our next segment,
which is all about that roster carousel, injuries, recalls, and
how all these moves are shaping team identities right now. Mmmm,
let's start with the New York Rangers. They're dealing with
the massive loss of their all star defenseman Adam Fox.
He's out indefinitely with an upper body injury, and his
absence just craters their power play.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
It's impossible to replace what he does. He's the quarterback
on that power play, the one who directs everything, makes
those perfect cross eyes passes, his ability to walk the
blue line is just elite.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
So to compensate, they're really focusing on tightening up their
five on five team defense.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And a big part of that has been Slava Gavrikov.
He's really stepped up as this solid, two way, stabilizing presence.
It's all about takeaways and controlled zonix. It's not high
risk offense.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
But what's really keeping the Rangers in the thick of
it is their emerging forward depth, specifically that crash line
with Will Kyle, Noah Laba and Brett Berard.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Management loves them. You hear whispers that they want that
line to stay together all season as like a tone
setting high energy for checking unit, and Kyle.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
In particular is really showing why they have such high
hopes for him. He's on track for a second straight
twenty goal season.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Sixteen points in thirty one games so far, and what's
crucial about his game, especially for young guy, is how
efficient he is from in close a close range sharpshooter.
Last season, I think fourteen of his twenty goals were
from right in the dirty areas.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Which is a skill you usually see in season veterans,
not a sophomore, and that's why people are starting to
see him as the potential heir to chreas Schreider's net
front role for the road.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Absolutely, he brings that physicality and NetFront presence that their
offense is built on. But we also have to look
at the other young guys in their system, like Matt Rumpey,
the fan favorite enforcer. He's nearing a return from that
lengthy injury he got in a fight. On the flip side,
you have a top prospect like Brennan Hoffman who was
just recalled.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well, then he didn't dress for any of the three
games he was up for, and.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That sends a message, doesn't it. If you call up
a top prospect during a busy week and he just
sits in the press box, it suggests they feel he
needs a lot more time in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Or you know, maybe they're showcasing him for potential trade
could be.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Meanwhile, over in Boston, the Bruins are finally starting to
get some of their big guns back, and the story
of one of them is just it's brutal.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Charlie McAvoy, the ordeal he went through after taking that
slapshot to the face on November fifteenth, it's a painful
reminder of how dangerous.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
The sport is linear fracture to the left side of
his face. He lost several bottom teeth and he was
on a liquid diet for six weeks just to let
the bone heal.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
We lost twenty pounds initially. That's a massive physical and
mental hurdle to get over. But he's nearing a return now,
which is great to hear.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
It really contextualizes the speed and danger of the game.
McAvoy logs almost twenty four minutes a night for them,
and the fact that the Bruins managed to stay above
water without him in Pasternak is a huge testament to
their depth.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
And speaking of Pasternak, their leading scorer. He made a
surprise return in that five to two win over the Blues.
Logged two assists. But the most interesting thing from that
game wasn't his points. It was the.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Lineup coach Marco Sterm's lineup decision. It seemed almost chaotic
on paper.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
He put Pasternak, their superstar, on the third line, alongside
Mark Stellic and Fraser Minton, which.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Was a shocker because it broke up a third line
that Sturm had been praising for over a month. But
he just said he went with his gut, you know,
to use the new depth he had from all the
returning players, and.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
The gut move paved off instantly. Minton and Castelic both
scored two goals each, four goals from that line.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It's a great example of how a deep, adaptable roster
can handle those kinds of situations. It also keeps Passernack
from facing top defensive pairings right away while as getting
his legs back. Smart coaching, And.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Before we leave Boston, we should give a quick nod
to a veteran who is leaving the league. Craig Smith
announced his retirement after fourteen seasons.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
A very solid career, nine hundred and eighty seven games,
A dependable two way forward who had some really productive
years in Boston.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Definitely, okay, let's shift to the Chicago Blackhawks. The focus
there is all about development, and it seems like they're
making a bit of a strategic shift.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
A big one. They sent two young prospects land and
Slaggered and first round are Sam Rinsel down to Rockford
in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And this move is all about one thing, ice time,
getting them critical, high leverage minutes.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Especially for Rinzl, his usage had slipped to under fourteen
minutes a game, and the goal, according to the coach,
is for him to go down and get his swagger
with the puck back.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Sometimes that's the best thing for a young player's confidence.
Let them go dominate at a lower level for a.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Bit, right, And they also noted that Rinzel isn't the
strongest physically yet, so in the AHL, the directive is
for him to work on his defensive stick play, learning
how to separate guys from the puck without getting into
those pure strength battles.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
And to fill the roster spot, they called up the
veteran journeyman Dominic Tonanado.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
A low risk, dependable option. But the recall also signals
a key tactical shift for Chicago. They're finally going back
to a traditional twelve forward, six defenceman lineup.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
That's huge. They were adjusting seven defencemen in what twenty
six of their first twenty nine games.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah, playing seventy to eleven f as a sort of
injury insurance and to manage the minutes for their ricky demon.
Moving back to a traditional alignment means guys like Murphy
and Crivier will see bigger roles and all.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
This talk of ricky defencemen. It just highlights how impressive
Ardemolishinoff has been. His teammates talk about the hilarious contrast
between how calm he is and how much risk he
takes on the ice.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Connorbridard said his heart rate has to be like twenty
five or thirty during the game.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
That's a great quote.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
It is. Another defenseman, Connor Murphy said there were times
when everyone on the bench panics, and then he's not
at all. He has this incredible ability to wheel around
his own net under pressure, draw in the fore check
and then make a perfect stretch pass. That's a skill
very few rookies have.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
We're seeing similar depth being tested over in Philadelphia too.
Ty Murchison, a fifth round pick from twenty twenty one,
just made his NHL debut and.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
He's a physical, shut down kind of guy. He was
apparently extremely emotional about getting the opportunity, which is always
great to see. He's really jumped up their depth chart
in the AHL.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
This year, and just quickly. The Flyers also made a
minor trade, sending Ethan Samson to Tampa for Roman Schmidt
and circling back to the Penguins that Malkin injury, placing
him on IR is a really serious blow for them
right now.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Well off of those height late game situations we were
just talking about exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Okay, So when we step back and look at the
whole league, separating the injuries from the pure talent, some
teams are just operating on another place planet right now.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Which brings us right to the Colorado Avalanche.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Their dominance has been historical, it really has.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
They have the best record in hockey at twenty one,
two and six, a league leading plus forty eight goal
differential and a ridiculous fifty nine point eighty one percent
expected goal share. That tells you they are just systematically
controlling games.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
And here's the context that makes it truly staggering. Colorado
is only the third team in NHL history to have
just two regulation losses through their first twenty nine games.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
The only others were the seventy nine eighty Flyers and
the twenty twelve thirteen Blackhawks. That is truly rarefied air.
They're just crushing opponents.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
But the Central Division race is still tight, which says
a lot about the West. The Dallas Stars are right
there nipping at.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Their heels, and Dallas is meeting their high expectations. They've
already got three players with over thirty four points. The
pressure is really on them to finally translate that regular
season success into a deep playoff run.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Now over in the East, the Detroit Red Wings are
a huge story. They've been a major riser in the Atlantic.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
After that four to zero shutout in Vancouver, they actually
moved into first place in that division. Their point streak
is now at five.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Games, and the big shift for Detroit is tied directly
to their goaltending. John Gibson is starting to look like
his old self again.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
He's won three straight posted that shut out.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
He just looks calmer and net more confident, and that
stability splitting time with Camp Talbot has been.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Huge for them, and that success is running deep through
their whole organization. You have to mention the AHL Grand
Rapids Griffins. Their start has been unprecedented.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Nineteen one in a one. That's the third best start
in the ninety year history of the AHL Wow and
it's being driven by their goalie prospect, Sebastian Cosa, who
has a stellar record, but the organization seems committed to
letting him develop in the minors, which is a sign
of a really smart, patient, long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Speaking of rising stars who are driving their teams, we
have to spend some real time on the San Jose
Sharks teenage phenomenon. Macklin's Celebrini. He's putting together a legitimate
heart trophy case at nineteen years old on a team
that's in the middle of a massive rebuild.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And that heart conversation is completely justified by one just
jaw dropping stat that shows his incredible impact. Celebrini has
been involved in an NHL high fifty percent of the
Shark's keen goals this season.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Fifty percent in modern hockey with balance scoring, that is
just it's staggering.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
It is the only other players in the modern era
the top fifty percent for season are Gretzky, Lemieux, McDavid,
and Jagger. That's the company he's keeping, That's the way
he's caring for that roster.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
In the microstats, they show he's a true six tool player.
He influences every single part of the game.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Let's break it down. Start with his tenacity. He leads
all NHL forwards and puck battle wins at nineteen. He's
just taking the puck from season veterans.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And you know he's earning respect when a guy like
Brad Marshan calls him a dog. That's high praise from
a master agitator exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
And he's not just off he's defensively engaged. Ranks fourth
in the league in peck deflections. He's constantly disrupting passing
lanes with an active stick.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
His quickness and anticipation show up in the numbers too.
He's fifth in puck recoveries. He doesn't just win the
puck back, he transitions immediately to offense.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Then you look at his creativity sixth and successful zone entries,
seventh in slot passes. He isn't just a shooter. He's
manufacturing chances for his entire line.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
And here's the last detail that proves how relentless he is.
He leads all forwards and penalties drawn. He is forcing
opponents to cheat because they can't legally contain him. He's
an absolute force.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
An incredible talent. Now, on the topic of major players returning,
we need to talk about Connor Hellibike and the Winnipeg Jets.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
The Jets have had a really disappointing start. They got
a Grade D in some recent reports, and Hellabike's absence
has just exposed all the flaws in that roster.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That grade is deserved. Hellabike is one of those elite
goalies who can mask a lot of systemic defensive issues.
Without him, we've seen a huge regression in their defensive coverage.
The secondary scoring has also completely dried up.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
The good news, though, is that he's tracking his return
in days, not weeks after his knee surgery right.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
He was practicing specific goalie movements this week, which is
a huge step. That's highly, highly unlikely he plays this weekend,
but he could be back in the crease for the
Jets as soon as next.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Week, and that timing is critical not just for Winnipeg's
playoff hopes, but for the international stage. His status is
one of the big question marks surrounding the twenty twenty
six Winter Olympics in Milan.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Which is a perfect place to turn our focus next.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Okay, let's pivot to the global stage, because there are
some really serious logistical and frankly safety concerns overshadowing the
twenty twenty six Olympics, specifically the ice.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
The NHL issued an absolutely firm ultimatum at the Board
of Governor's Meetings Bill Daily, the w commissioner said, I'm
quoting here. If the league's players feel the quality of
the ice at the Olympics in Milan is unsafe, then
we're not going to play. It's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Wow, that is a non negotiable line in the sand.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
It is, and the logistical stress is just immense. The
main hockey arena is scheduled to be finished on February second,
The women's tournament starts three days later, the men start
on February eleventh.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
That is, that is no wiggle room, very little.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Wiggle room, as Daily put it, and those arenas will
be hosting three games a day for almost three weeks straight.
The ice surface is going to be challenged constantly.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
So the NHL is sending their own.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
People exactly, They're sending their own ice experts and technicians
to Milan to help ensure the conditions are acceptable for
NHL athletes. It says a lot that the league feels
it needs to do that.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
And beyond the safety, there's the size issue. The rink
is smaller than NHL standard, right.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
It's about four feet shorter and a tiny bit wider.
But that four feet of missing length is the key.
It compresses the neutral zone, speeds up the transition game,
and forces quicker decisions, and.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
It makes the games more physical.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
That's what Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong is no noted.
Less room to skate means more contact. So teams are
already thinking about building rosters with more size and grit.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
So let's get into those roster debates. Starting with Team USA.
They are dealing with a laundry list of major injury concerns.
Adam Fox, Charlie McAvoy, Matthew T, Chuck Jack Hughes, Jacob
slaven Connor, Hello Bike.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
It's an all star team of question marks. The current
projection may be a bit optimistically assumes they'll all be
healthy and available. But even then, there's the huge debate
around Jason Robertson.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
His production is just undeniable since remember fifth, nobody has
more goals. He's making a compelling case on the scoreesheet he.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Is, and proponents argue he gives Team USA another elite
scorer and a big body, which is crucial for that
smaller ice. But the critics point to his skating and
his two a play right.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
The defensive details back checking, minimizing turnovers.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Exactly, and Team USAGM Bill garn basically said it could
come down to fit. If they need a pure scoring
power forward Roberts, if they need a dynamic two way center,
he might be the odd man out.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
And that same debate is happening on their blue line.
Do you go with established veterans like John Carlson, who's
been incredibly consistent, or do you embrace.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
The youth movement players like Lane Hudson, Luke Hughes, Jackson Lacom,
guys who are logging heavy minutes right now and bring
a ton of speed at the back end. It's a
tough choice.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
King Canada is facing a similar dilemma youth versus experience.
How do you fit young stars like Connor Bdard and
maclen Celabrini alongside your proven Cup winning veterans.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
And because of that smaller ice, they are putting a
clear emphasis on size on defense. Their projected roster has
five d man over six foot two. They're prioritizing muscle
and reach, especially with Alex Piatangelo out with that hip injury.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Goaltending is still a question mark for them too. Jordan
Binnington is projected to be one of the three, and
he's been talking about trying to control his inner world
to make the team.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
And he's a guy who thrives in those high pressure,
single elimination tournaments. He led the Blues to the Cup
in Canada to the FOREIG Nations title. You can't count
them out.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
And just briefly, other countries are dealing with this too.
Sweding is waiting on William Carlson's injury status, and Finland's
depth is being really challenged by a lack of consistent
NHL production from their players, to.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
The point where they might have to look at finish
players who aren't even in the NHL to round out
their roster. It just highlights how much these injuries and
depth issues are affecting every team heading into the tournament.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Okay, speaking of culture and how teams operate, let's shift
gears a bit to some of the off ice stories
and media narratives that have been making waves. Starting with
an annual tradition that always sparks a lot of debate.
The anonymous NHL players pull and we have.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
To start with the best category, the most punishable face.
It's always entertaining and it really reveals the league's unofficial agitator, Hierarchy.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
The winner this year, with twenty four point three percent
of the vote was Ottawa's Nick Cousins. He just edged
out Brad Marshawn and somehow Matthew Chichuk came in third, which.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Is mind boggling because Trekachuk hasn't even played this season.
That just tells you everything you need to know about
having an established reputation in this league.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
And the anonymous quotes from the players are perfect for Cousins.
One player said I can't stand him. I heard he's
a good guy, but I'd still love to punch him
in the face.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Marshand, of course, was just called a little rat and
Kalakuchuk was labeled an a hole in front of the net.
It perfectly captures their play styles.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
What's really notable, though, is who's missing from the list.
Tom Wilson, who topped the poll two years ago, didn't
even appear.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
This year, and their speculation that his response back then
joking that he'd probably punch that guy in the face too,
was maybe just menacing enough to keep him off the list, or.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It could be that his game has legitimately evolved. He's
fighting way less than he used to. He's becoming more
of a pure power forward than just an enforcer.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
It seems like he's intentionally trying to adjust that reputation.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Now, let's talk about stats and the information age, because
there's a real warning out there that artificial intelligence is
making sports fans and writers quote lazy and stupid.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
This is a really critical point for anyone who follows sports.
The problem is that AI relies on credible human sources
to learn, but when those humans start relying on AI
for their facts, any errors just get recycled over and
over again.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
There is a great case study on this. A reader
email to writer confidently stating, thanks to chat GPT that
thirty five percent of NHL games go to overtime, and.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The actual number is closer to twenty twenty five percent.
That's a massive error, but the AI presents it as
absolute fact.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
But the best example was when they tried to use
AI to verify Logan Cooley's point total. The AI just
struggled immensely. It kept mixing in playoff stats from other players,
It generated useless estimates.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
It went through an eight minute loop of corrections and
still couldn't get it right. Yeah, It proves that for specific, nuanced,
constantly updating sports stats, you still need that human verification.
AI just can't handle the dynamic reality of any season yet.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
You have to look it up yourself or trust human
experts who can check the sources exactly. Okay, shifting to
something a little more fun in nostalgic, We saw a
great throwback event in the AHL this week.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yes, the Hershey Bears were their vintage skating bear jerseys
from the nineteen seventies and the fan response just shows
the power of those legacy logos.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
It was a huge success, record attendance of over eighty
nine hundred fans and the game warn jerseys were auctioned
off for big money. One went for twenty six hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
It shows how much that heritage means to the local community.
And there's a spectacular NHL connection coming up. Joe zekk
confirmed that the Colorado Avalanche are very likely to wear
their Quebec Nordik's retro jerseys for their game in Montreal
on January twenty ninth.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
That is going to be incredible. The powder blue Nordik's
jersey against the Classic Canadians red a perfect throwback matchup.
It just proves that nostalgia is a huge driver for
the sport.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
It really is. It shows that for a lot of fans,
the deepest connection is historical.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Okay, so we have covered a ton of ground today,
from Buffalo's upset and the officiating controversies to the Olympic
Ice crisis and the statistical marvel that is Maclin Selabrini, and.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
The key takeaways for you the listener really center on
depth and culture. The Olympic ice situation is a genuine
threat to NHL participation and Celebrini's dominance, especially in those microstats,
proves he is a truly elite generational talent.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
And those play to development moves. We talked about sending
prospects to the AHL using depth line strategically, it shows
that the path success is paved by internal growth, not
just big acquisitions.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
So what does this all mean for the big picture?
Let's end on the idea of organizational culture. We heard
Bruce Boudreau talking about Alex Ovechkin, who might actually pursue
one thousand goals incredible, and Boudreau praised him not just
for scoring, but for fostering a winning environment for twenty seasons.
He called him a big kid who created an atmosphere
(27:56):
that was second to none.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
And you can contrast that with the Vegas Golden Knights.
They're undergoing a huge restructuring of their business operations right now.
They're taking the same never satisfied approach they use on
their roster and applying it to their front office.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Exactly, they won a Stanley Cup, but instead of resting,
they are ruthlessly optimizing their entire organization, trading out business
leaders just like they'd trade an underperforming player. Their culture
is continuous, cold blooded improvement.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Which leaves us with a question for you to think about.
Can organizational culture, everything from the front office strategy to
the team captain's demeanor, Can that truly be the ultimate
driving force behind playoff success? Or is all that just
a fascinating footnote to the raw talent on the ice.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
It's something to consider as we head into the second
half of the season, food for thought. Indeed, we'll see
next time here at the Hockey Booth.
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