The Chirp with Daren Millard

Daren is joined by head of the Vegas Golden Knights Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy talks about how he got his start in coaching, the transition to Vegas, dealing with injuries, and how he goes about fostering relationships with his players. He's a big golfer, but explains why he hasn't been on the course a lot and he also discusses some of the dynamics that go into coaching at the All Star game . Plus, thoughts on Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo and Jim Montgomery, who he gave advice to while Montgomery was interviews for the coaching job in Boston.

Daren is joined by Dave Goucher and Gary Lawless for a roundtable that covers a heck of a lot, including the state of the Vegas Golden Knights and whether or not the injury bug will once again keep the club from reaching its full potential. Goucher and Lawless are both convinced that the Bruins will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final and they look at potential players that they could add at the deadline to bolster the roster. They discuss the winning formula in Winnipeg, the struggling Islanders, this year's trade market and try to project what Connor McDavid's numbers will look like when it's all said and done.

Daren is joined by the TV voice of the Seattle Kraken John Forslund. John hops on to talk about the reasons for the Kraken's success in year 2, provide a behind the scenes glimpse into Matty Beniers and explain the organization's approach to Shane Wright's development. He discusses his transition from Carolina to Seattle and the great chemistry he has in the TV booth with Ed Olczyk. Plus, he gives a little background on some of his notable catch phrases and shares a heart warming story on the impact his late father had on him as an aspiring broadcaster. Daren wraps up the episode with a prediction for the Florida Panthers and explains why his desire to watch the Buffalo Sabres regularly is a telltale sign that the NHL is currently in a great place.

Daren is joined by TNT analyst Rick Tocchet and they snap it around touching on a number of subjects, including Connor Bedard's potential impact on a franchise, Tage Thompson's development and the defensive issues plaguing the Florida Panthers. They talk about Connor McDavid's status as an all-time great and look at some of the reasons why the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights have all had success under new coaching regimes. Tocchet explains why he's enjoyed making the transition to television and reveals some of the reasons why the TNT panel has been able to develop great chemistry in such a short amount of time.

Daren is joined by Jim Montgomery (2:00) to talk about the Bruins amazing start to the season, the minor tweaks that he made when he took over, his relationship with Bruce Cassidy and Linus Ullmark's incredible run of play. He touches on Patrice Bergeron's unique leadership qualities and Brad Marchand's hunger to consistently learn. What's he looking forward to most about the Winter Classic at Fenway Park? And what does he remember about the Coach's Cafe during the pandemic.... It's quite the convo with one of the best coaches in the NHL.

Daren is joined by Barry Trotz to discuss Alex Ovechkin's latest milestone and his quest to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record. Barry offers great insight into what makes Ovechkin ticks, his growth as a player and person, his unrivaled durability, his Russian background and his drive to be the best goal scorer in history. Barry also discusses how he's been spending his time away from the ice and his coaching future. He also shows off his signed guitar collection from his home in Nashville.

Daren is joined by NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen to discuss a myriad of topics around the League. Are the Devils for real? Dan is convinced that the Devils will win their division. He's concerned about the Winnipeg Jets being able to hold off the Dallas Stars in the Central. They debate who the best player on the Toronto Maple Leafs is and what the best story of the season is thus far. They talk about the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights. It's a smorgasbord of NHL topics, debates and discussion.

Daren is joined by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (1:15). Morrissey talks about some of the reasons behind his breakout season, including an important conversation he had with Rick Bowness prior to the season and his off-season training program with Adam Oates. He discusses how Blake Wheeler handled losing the captaincy and why Wheeler has been so important to him throughout his career. Daren plays a little Major/Minor/Let it Go with Josh and hilarity ensues on the topics of being on speaker phone in public and the proper order of cereal preparation.

Daren is joined by ESPN's Ashley Brewer (1:00). Brewer is a huge hockey fan and grew up in Phoenix rooting for the Arizona Coyotes, she reminisces about her favorite NHLers growing up, including Jeremy Roenick, Shane Doan and Mark Messier and talks about who she enjoys watching the most now. She shares some Charles Barkley stories and explains her connection to Auston Matthews. What does she think about the Coyotes playing at Mullett Arena? She was at the first game at Mullett and talks about the unique experience that the college arena provides to Yotes fans. Brewer was pumped to find out that ESPN secured the NHL TV rights and re-lives the elation that she and her fellow ESPN co-workers had when the deal was announced.

Daren is joined by Howard Baldwin (2:00). Baldwin founded the New England Whalers ice hockey franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and retained ownership when the team became the Hartford Whalers and joined the National Hockey League. Baldwin talks about how he was able to secure the franchise, the growth of the WHA, Bobby Hull signing with the startup League, how the Whalers were able to get Gordie Howe and the ultimate merger with the NHL. The stories Baldwin shares are documented in the Slim and None podcast that details Howard Baldwin's involvement with the start of the WHA. * Season 1 of Slim and None can be found on NHL.com or wherever podcasts are available: https://bit.ly/3gceXA7 * Visit houseofanansi.com to buy a copy of Slim and None: My Wild Ride from the WHA to the NHL and All the Way to Hollywood by Howard Baldwin, and use promo code SLIM at the checkout to save 15%.

Daren is joined by Alex Tuch (2:00) and Jack Eichel (23:04). Alex talks about the Sabres hot start, playing for his hometown team, the motivation that the Bills success has provided to the Sabres and what he'll do if the Bills win the Super Bowl. Eichel discusses why he's become a fan of the UFC, his skating technique, how he's became more comfortable in Vegas and why his stick pattern hasn't changed in a decade.

Daren is joined by his old friend Nick Kypreos and they go back and forth on the biggest surprises of the early NHL season, the panic surrounding the Maple Leafs slow start, and the reasons why the Buffalo Sabres should be thought of as a real contender. They discuss Jack Eichel's impact on the Golden Knights, the uncanny grit of David Pastrnak and examine the results of some of the rebuilding teams in the NHL.

Daren is joined by Cale Makar (2:00) and Trevor Zegras (18:15). Makar talks about his day with the Stanley Cup, clearing out space for his trophies and learning Nate MacKinnon's sarcasm. Plus, a game of Major/Minor/Let it Go leads to Cale questioning everything he's ever known. Zegras chats Daren up about being on the cover of NHL 22, the moves he's been working on during the offseason, his tattoos and reminisces about some of his NHL firsts. Daren wraps up the episode with thoughts on Phil Kessel, Barry Trotz's desire to get back to running an NHL bench and the teams will likely be in the hunt to draft Connor Bedard.

Daren is joined by Jordan Staal (2:51) and Max Domi (30:30). Staal talks about his favorite fast food options, trying to slow down the League's top goal scorers, his belief in the Hurricanes as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and an epic trip to California to play Pebble Beach. Domi shares some Rod Brind'Amour stories, talks about playing with his idol Patrick Kane, the growth of his golf game, some of his NHL firsts and his Mount Rushmore of cars.

Daren is joined by Nick Suzuki (2:26) and Mark Scheifele (17:55). Suzuki talks about his new role as the Montreal Canadiens captain, the impact of Martin St. Louis, his favorite golf courses and why anything but white skate laces is a faux pas. Sheifele goes into detail about getting ordained this summer, his experience as a wedding officiant, getting used to being a veteran on his team and playing for Rick Bowness. Daren wraps up the episode explaining who is Calder pick is, Jack Eichel's impact on the Golden Knights and some Over/Under picks for the upcoming season.

Daren is joined by Matthew Tkachuk (3:20) & Jonathan Huberdeau (21:50). Tkachuk talks about adjusting to his new lifestyle in Florida, golf outings with Brady and Keith, and his thought process behind wanting to leave Calgary. Huberdeau discusses signing with Calgary and why he believes Calgary is set up for even more success than Florida may be. He reminisces about his first fight, driving a standard car and explains why he rarely ever breaks his stick. Daren rounds out the episode talking about some breakout candidates for the upcoming season, the pressure on Sheldon Keefe (32:40) and who he thinks is the best offseason signing from a bargain perspective (37:01).

Daren closes out the 2021-22 season with John Shannon (1:00) and Paul Maurice (25:50). Shannon breaks down all the early free-agency moves, including Johnny Gaudreau signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the trades made by the Carolina Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins re-signing Letang and Malkin, the goalie moves made by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, the Islanders inactivity and the potential landing spots for Patrick Kane. Paul Maurice discusses why the Florida Panthers job was so attractive to him, the challenges that he faces taking over a team as successful as the Panthers and the tweaks that he will try to make to allow the Panthers to find victories in the playoffs. He explains why it was time to leave the Winnipeg Jets and pokes fun at his friend Pete DeBoer for being as obsessed with hockey as he is.

Daren is joined by Andrew Cogliano of the Colorado Avalanche to talk about his journey to winning the Stanley Cup, the celebration that immediately followed in Tampa Bay and how a "unique" hotel room number led to Nathan MacKinnon's comfort ahead of Game 6. He also discusses the nifty equipment modification that allowed him to play with an injured finger, the reason he spoke to the team before the clinching game and the suffocating defense the Avalanche played in the 3rd period that shut down the Lightning. He explains a strategy he used that he never used before and talks about some of the details that he's already planning for his day with the Stanley Cup.

Daren is joined by Ray Ferraro to talk about various Stanley Cup Final storylines, working his first Cup Final on television (13:20), trade secrets he's learned from working between the benches and life on the road. Ferraro dissects the goalie decision that Jared Bednar faces ahead of Game 4 and marvels at Andrei Vasilevskiy.... Ray has Vasy pretty high up on his list of goalies that he's seen play since 1980 (9:30). He breaks down the review process for Clubs and the NHL, and tosses out a few tweaks that he's heard from Coaches on how to better streamline the review process (29:00). Daren takes Ray down a winding path to talk about how he got into television and why he never got into coaching or management (17:00). He also touches on the fear surrounding Kucherov's injury in Game 3, Pat Maroon's knack for messing with him as he works and Jon Cooper's keen awareness and ability to take notice of EVERYTHING during games.

Daren is joined by Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau to get the coach's perspective on the Stanley Cup Final after Game 1. Boudreau worked for the NHL Network before getting hired by the Canucks so he put back on his analyst hat to talk about the storylines surrounding the Cup Final, the matchups between the Avs and Lightning, the goaltending advantage for the Lightning and the luxury that Jon Cooper has over Jared Bednar with Vasilevskiy in net. He explains why it's so difficult to hold a lead in the NHL these days, the one player that would concern him the most as a coach, the detailed preparation and adjustments made by each team after Game 1, and whether or not home ice advantage matters in a series like this. He also talks about the Golden Knights hiring Bruce Cassidy and the whirlwind that Cassidy is dealing with as he quickly hired after being let go by the Boston Bruins.

Daren welcomes in Mike Rupp to talk about the Avalanche advancing to the Stanley Cup Final (2:50), Cale Makar entering the "top player in the world" conversation (5:00) and the mental challenges that players face when shooting against elite goalies (18:30). He also goes into detail as to why he was double drafted (13:00)... it's quite an interesting story and makes a few analogies related to the NY Rangers and home ice advantage (24:45) that you have to hear. Millard wraps up the episode with an Eastern Conference Final prediction (31:00) and tries to explain what's going on with the Boston Bruins (33:00).

Daren is off the injured list and is joined by his pal Nick Kypreos to talk about the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Toronto Maple Leafs failure to advance past the first round, the decisions surrounding the Panthers head coaching position and the potential landing spots for Barry Trotz. The two debate who they'd take right now.... McDavid or Vasilevskiy? and they look ahead to the spectacle that would be a MacKinnon & McDavid showdown in the Western Conference Final. They wonder who the Vegas Golden Knights will hire to be their coach and reminisce about some of their traveling stories from the Sportsnet days.... Who was given the nickname Pedals and why?

Daren is joined by Katie Guay (1:26), the first woman official to referee an AHL game and one of the first four women to officiate at the NHL level, working in an NHL Prospect Tournament. The conversation with Guay covers a lot, including how she got her start in officiating, her style when dealing with players (5:40), and how she balances her regular 9 to 5 job with her officiating assignments. She explains the significance of being the first woman to drop the puck on an AHL game, talks about the intensity of the USA/Canada women's rivalry, and discusses the process of climbing the officiating ranks... What are her long-term goals, and how does she plan on achieving them? She schools Daren on some of ins and outs of refereeing (16:00) and shares a few great stories, including the whereabouts of her first AHL jersey and how working the NHL Prospect Tournament in Anaheim led to an appearance on her favorite game show (40.00).

Daren starts the episode with John Shannon to talk about the legacy of Eugene Melnyk and how the NHL, Ottawa community and the Senators are reacting to his death (1:20). Shannon goes on to talk about teams that he considers contenders and teams that he believes are pretenders (18:30). He dissects some of the goalie issues that are lingering in Edmonton and Toronto, and tries to explain why Martin St. Louis has worked in Montreal and the impact that St. Louis has had on players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield (13:50). Andrew Brunette checks in (24:10) and talks about his transition from Florida Panthers assistant coach to head coach, the Club's acquisition of Claude Giroux (35:00), his keys for success as an NHL head coach and what he learned from Bruce Boudreau. He also talks about the personality of this Panthers team, what they learned from last year's playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Aleksander Barkov's impact on his teammates (40:00).

Daren is joined by Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon (:54). Of course, Spurgeon talks about the Wild's acquisition of Marc-Andre Fleury and some of the "inside" info that Bill Guerin shared with him about Fleury after the trade went down (2:37). Jared goes onto discuss the team's new goalie tandem, his responsibilities as the team's captain to help integrate new players to the team and the expectations that he has as the race to the playoffs is heating up (6:09). What's his favorite part about Minnesota? What's his relationship with Bill Guerin like? and how does he spend his time when he's away from the rink? He candidly answers these questions (10:00) and also talks about the unique skill set of Kirill Kaprizov and the on-bench mannerisms of Wild head coach Dean Evason. Daren shares his post trade-deadline thoughts and the landscape of the League as the playoffs near (20:38).

Daren is joined by Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic and Turner Sports to discuss the latest Alex Ovechkin milestone and put his career accomplishments in perspective. Tarik began covering Ovechkin when he was first drafted by the Capitals and shares a ton of Ovechkin memories and stories throughout the conversation, including the time Ovechkin was angry with one of his stories (49:00) and the interactions he used to have with Sidney Crosby (20:50). Is Ovechkin already the greatest goal scorer in NHL history? Tarik makes a case as to why he is (16:55). He also talks about what the Capitals may do at the Trade Deadline (38:00), some of the intriguing players that may be on the move, the Maple Leafs (44:00) and the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference (41:00).

Daren is joined by his good friend and former colleague at Sportsnet Cassie Campbell-Pascall. Cassie talks about her new role with ESPN and balancing her responsibilities there and with Sportsnet. She explains why she's been so impressed with the Colorado Avalanche, and why she believes the Calgary Flames have made so much progress under Darryl Sutter. She compares the disappointment she's felt as a player to the disappointment Nathan MacKinnon has dealt with in past playoff runs, and explains how it appears to have fueled him this season. She tells Daren who her favorite for the Hart Trophy is and how she feels about Igor Shesterkin being considered for the award. Other topics include Auston Matthews' push for 60 goals, what it's like working with John Buccigross, why playing with Connor McDavid is a challenge and Michael Bunting's breakout season. She talks about her experience working as a female in the hockey industry, some of the broadcasting lessons she learned from Bob Cole and the advice she'd give Wayne Gretzky as he prepares to be in the booth for TNT for this weekend's Heritage Classic.

Daren is joined by Sheri Hudspeth of the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights to talk about her role in growing girl's hockey in Las Vegas. She takes Daren through her journey that started as a young hockey player in Toronto and has taken her to Minnesota, Pennsylvania and now Las Vegas. She talks about the importance of providing girls with the same hockey experience that traditionally is reserved for boys and discusses the challenges and joys that have come with her role in Las Vegas. She looks back and explains who some of her mentors were and talks about how some of her past experiences has helped shape her coaching philosophy and growth strategy in Las Vegas. She talks about what long-term success looks like from her perspective and provides some interesting thoughts on some of the challenges that face Women's hockey right now. She shares some opinions on what needs to happen in order for a professional women's hockey league to flourish and explains some of the issues that she believes will ultimately be overcome regarding women's professional hockey. * Thanks to the NHL Coaches Association * For more info: https://www.vegasgoldenknightsjr.com/

Daren is joined by notorious chirper and 3-time Stanley Cup Champion Pat Maroon (:48). He talks about the art of trash talking, his evolution as a chirper and his verbal back and forths with Brad Marchand. He discusses the "Chub Club" and the experience he had with Jon Cooper as a younger player that led him to the "Chub Club".... Pat explains what the "Chub Club" is (7:40). He talks about his past experience playing with very skilled players, including Connor McDavid, Ryan O'Reilly, etc. He's been a media darling since winning the Stanley Cup in St. Louis and it has led to some endorsements, he shares what it was like shooting commercials with Darren Pang and Ryan O'Reilly... He had some issues nailing one of the commercial's key lines that led to some laughs from the crew (21:06). What is Letty Dressing and how did he get involved? (23:00). Plus, he explains the origin of his nickname (26:00) and why he had to leave social media while in St. Louis and how it helped his mental health (28:20).

Daren is joined by Seattle Kraken broadcasters JT Brown & Everett Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh, usually the radio voice of the Kraken, and Brown, the analyst on the Kraken's TV broadcasts will work together in the TV booth this week, it will be the first all-Black TV broadcast in NHL history. They talk about just how special the occasion is and the importance of representation in hockey. They talk about how their friendship started and has grown since joining the Kraken, and some of the nerves that they will surely experience during their first TV broadcast together. Everett isn't shy talking about some of challenges he dealt with as a black male trying to work in hockey. They also discuss the Seattle Kraken's first season, the challenges the team has faced, the expectations within the organization and some of highlights of attending a game at Climate Pledge Arena. Both guys say they are looking forward to calling the game together and are confident that the chemistry that they've built through their friendship comes across on the broadcast. Subscribe to The Chirp for free, available on all podcast platforms and YouTube and don't forget to leave a review!

Daren is joined by Hockey Hall of Famer Paul Coffey (1:45) & Vegas Golden Knights insider Gary Lawless (33:49). Coffey has high praise for Cale Makar, shares some of his favorite night spots in the NHL, talks about why he respects Victor Hedman and tells an awesome Bobby Orr story. Lawless talks about some of the top NHL storylines, including Eichel's pending return, the makeup of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the issues that are plaguing the Edmonton Oilers. He looks ahead to the 2nd half of the season and talks about some moves that may be made prior to the NHL's trade deadline.

Daren knocks out this episode from Las Vegas at the NHL's Fan Fair during All Star weekend. He's joined by Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly (1:05), Senior VP of Hockey Operations Kris King (22:45) and Vegas Golden Knights President of Hockey Operations George McPhee (48:35).

Daren is joined by John Hynes (1:08) to talk about the success of the Nashville Predators, Matt Duchene's bounce back season, Juuse Saros' seamless transition to being the team's starting goalie and some of his personal experiences with Nashville's country artists. He also talks about the transition from New Jersey to Nashville and some of the reasons why he thinks this team can make some noise this year. Chico Resch also joins (18:45) to share some memories of Clark Gillies and explain to the listeners what made Clark such a unique person and player. All NHL fans should listen to Chico's perspective to get a better sense of what Clark meant to his teammates and the NY Islanders organization.

Daren is joined by Mike Kelly and Dan Rosen for the inaugural Analytics vs. Eye test faceoff challenge! Topics include: Marc-Andre Fleury's trade value, potential suitors for Fleury, Lightning vs. Panthers, Overachievers/Underachievers, impact of coaching changes, Capitals goalie situation, Edmonton's issues, Juuse Saros' Vezina chances, Auston Matthews' road goal streak, California teams, Igor Shesterkin's value to NY Rangers. Daren wraps up the episode with a tribute to Willie O'Ree and looking at the Montreal Canadiens hiring of Kent Hughes.

Daren catches up with Elliotte Friedman and the two touch on plenty of subjects, including how the Edmonton Oilers should address their goalie situation, Evander Kane's future, the GM openings across the League, Marc Bergevin joining the LA Kings, the chances of Patrick Roy getting hired in Montreal, John Klingberg's frustration in Dallas, the Nashville Predator's success and the NHL community responding to the tragic death of Teddy Balkind. Elliotte also takes Daren behind the scenes of the new HNIC set and laughs about the trolls on social media.

Daren is joined by Jack Hughes (1:30) and Dave Lowry (22:20). Hughes riffs on his unique goal celebrations, his favorite books, top Netflix shows and the reasons he believes the Devils are building toward something special. He shares a difficult conversation he had to have with his roomate Ty Smith and how he plans to mentor his brother Luke Hughes when he gets to the NHL. Lowry talks about taking over for Paul Maurice in Winnipeg and the shock he felt when he found out that Maurice was resigning. What's it like coaching his son at the NHL level? and how does his wife feel about the situation? Lowry is excited about how the Jets are coming together and raves about the skills of Kyle Connor.

Daren is joined by TNT's lead analyst Eddie Olczyk to talk about broadcasting his 11th Winter Classic, the celebration of hockey in Minnesota and some of his experiences playing outdoors as a child. He's intrigued by the matchup between the Blues and Wild and looks at some of the key players that will participate in this year's Winter Classic, including Kirill Kaprizov. He shares a secret his mother once told him about staying warm in frigid weather and reminisces about his mother's influence on him and shares a few stories about how she supported him as a young hockey player. Edzo explains how John Madden influenced his broadcasting career and talks about the art of telestration as a hockey analyst. Other topics include Tuukka Rask's potential return to the Bruins, the decision to not send NHL players to the Olympics and Paul Maurice resigning as the coach of the Winnipeg Jets.

Daren is joined by David Quinn (2:41) to talk about how he's adjusting to life after leaving the NY Rangers, how he's preparing for his next opportunity and what his responsibilities are now as an assistant coach with the U.S. Olympic hockey team. He admits to watching a lot of NHL hockey and gave his opinion on who he thinks some of the top teams in the NHL are (4:30) and shared his thoughts on the Zegras/Milano goal (18:00). He coached Jack Eichel for one year at Boston University and provided Daren with some insight into what Vegas Golden Knights fans can look forward to with Eichel set to return later in the season (15:00). Other topics include Quinn's coaching future (he's ready for the next opportunity), what he learned in New York, why coaching college hockey is valuable and how it differs from the NHL. Special thanks to the NHL Coaches' Association, visit them at www.nhlcoaches.com

Daren is joined by Ryan Hartman (6:30) to talk about his multisport prowess (scratch golfer & placekicking extraordinaire) and his sudden uptick in goal scoring... how many goals can Hartman bury this year? He looks forward to the Winter Classic and talks about Kirill Kaprizov's unique personality and the intensity he constantly has on the ice. He talks about why he wanted to stay in Minnesota and how is relationship with Wild GM Bill Guerin has helped his productivity on the ice. What characteristics do the Wild have that he believes make the team a legitimate Stanley Cup contender and how does he feel about the Vegas Golden Knights... the rivalry has blossomed and according to Hartman, so has the hatred. Daren also discusses the turnaround in Vancouver, the NHL's plan if players don't go to the Olympics and the Oilers recent slump.

Daren is joined by Ray Ferraro (2:30) to talk about the Vancouver Canucks' coaching change, their plans for the front-office and Bruce Boudreau's style. He discusses Sid vs. Ovi and who he enjoys watching more from ice-level (5:30). He goes in-depth about the Trevor Zegras/Sonny Milano goal and talks about the progress that has been made in the League from a skills perspective (10:15). He makes a prediction on this year's Rocket Richard race and really wonders what's next for the Philadelphia Flyers (24:08). Other topics include the Vegas Golden Knights (41:00), Team Canada's goalie for the Olympics (26:00), working with Sean McDonough (30:00), airplane etiquette (42:00) and who the best team in the League is right now (36:00).

Darren Pang checks in and talks about the front office shakeup in Montreal (12:00) and explains the challenges that come with trying to re-build that franchise. Pang is asked whether or not Ovechkin will break Gretzky's goal record and his answer is quite surprising and very specific (11:00). What's Pang's take on some of the slew-footing that's been happening around the League and Brendan Lemieux's biting incident... well, he doesn't hold back and shares a few reasons why there's been an uptick in slew-footing (18:00). Pang looks at the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers and shares his opinion on each team, plus he discusses some of the reasons why Zach Hyman has been so good this year (21:00). Should we be impressed with the Maple Leafs or wait until the playoffs? Pang has some thoughts on why what the Leafs are doing right now should be appropriately recognized and will impact their playoff run (23:30). He finishes the conversation talking about Vladimir Tarasenko (36:00) and sharing some memories of being named a Calder Trophy finalist, and shows off a few of his NHL mementos that he's saved throughout the years (28:00).

Daren is joined by Colby Armstrong (1:45) and San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture (37:00). Armstrong talks about the Calgary Flames, Darryl Sutter's leadership and offers up some thoughts on PK Subban's recent slew-footing controversy. Armstrong played with Subban in Montreal and shares a few Subban stories and explains what a "sifter" shot is. He discusses Jared Bednar's recent contract extension, Connor McDavid vs. Leon Draisaitl, Tristan Jarry and Evgeni Malkin. Couture talks about the San Jose Sharks exceeding expectations, learning from Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau and being mentored by Brian Kilrea. He explains why he has a different perspective on referees than most NHL players and why he ultimately chose to play hockey rather than lacrosse or baseball. Daren wraps up the episode with a personal message to New York Islanders fans.

Daren is joined by Erin Andrews to talk about her clothing line, WEAR and partnering with the NHL to bring a hockey-themed women's clothing line to fans. She explains how she got her start in sportscasting with the Tampa Bay Lightning and why her NHL fandom has grown through the years. Her husband is longtime NHL forward Jarret Stoll and she talks about how his former teammates and their wives have helped bring WEAR to life across the NHL. She compares her golden retriever to Jonathan Quick and talks about Sidney Crosby's charm, Jeff Carter's move to Pittsburgh and why she will forever be a Tampa Bay Lightning fan. Daren chimes in with some of his own NHL fashion ideas, apologizes to the entirety of the Pacific Division, tips his cap to the Islanders and speculates about Ben Bishop's future.

Darren Dreger joins to talk about the impact of the Jack Eichel trade, was it a good deal for Buffalo and how risky is it for Vegas? He explains the process of trying to break the Eichel trade story, and why this particular trade was different than others that he's covered previously (7:00). Dreger also talks about the coaching change in Chicago (28:00) and the pressure that's mounting in Colorado and Montreal (30:00). How patient will Joe Sakic be with Jared Bednar? Will Marc Bergevin be the GM of the Montreal Canadiens at season's end? He answers those questions and also weighs in on the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Mike Babcock (36:00).

Dominic Moore checks in from his building's basement utility closet to talk about his role as this year's Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador. The Former NHL forward seeks to raise awareness of rare cancers in tribute to first wife and he talks about the honor of taking on the role, what it means to him and why his foundation and "Smashfest" event has resonated with current and former NHL players (3:00). He shares a few "Smashfest" stories, including the ultra competitive nature of Marty St. Louis and the desire of Max Domi to showcase his ping pong skills. Moore goes on to discuss the leadership qualities of Adam Fox and the unique style that he plays (15:00). He is also asked if Fox would be a good captain choice for the New York Rangers. Moore is a Toronto native, does he have sympathy for Maple Leafs as they go through a rough start to the season? What does he think is the biggest issue surrounding the Leafs? (26:00). Moore also discusses Ovechkin's scoring pace and why he believe he'd choose McDavid over Ovechkin in his prime (32:00). Finally, he shares his thoughts on the Florida Panthers and the challenge that Andrew Brunette faces moving over to the head coach position (35:00).

Daren is joined by Nick Kypreos (2:15) to talk about the early season issues in Chicago, the pressure that's mounting on Jeremy Colliton and wonders if Marc-Andre Fleury will remain in Chicago if the losing continues. He explains why Leafs fans are angry and why Mitch Marner is taking most of the heat from the fan base. How does Kyper see the Jack Eichel situation playing out? He answers that and looks at all the factors at play surrounding the Sabres and Eichel. Nick also talks about the New York Rangers, Igor Shesterkin, Robin Lehner and the Vegas Golden Knights. Robin Lehner joined Daren (47:55) prior to the start of the season to talk about being the number 1 goalie in Vegas, his love for the UFC, his vacation to the Sahara Desert, his desire to play in the Olympics, mental health, social media and why his goal of winning the Stanley Cup is so important to him.

Daren is joined by Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green. Green talks about how much different this season is compared to last year and explains why it's important for teams to bond outside of the rink and why the Canucks recently stayed in Detroit during a road trip to go to a Lions game. Green goes back to his youth and talks about how he got started in hockey, when he started playing and then reminisces about his professional playing days and explains why he thinks he's able to relate to younger players. Was he worried when Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson weren't in training camp and negotiating contracts ? He answers that, while also discussing the traits that make both Hughes and Pettersson such great players. He dissects some of the ins and outs of coaching, including the complexities of managing a professional hockey bench, what's said during intermissions, matching lines and how to foster the proper environment for his players. He also talks about the natural rivalry that now exists between the Canucks and Kraken and the excitement surrounding Seattle's first home game against Vancouver. Daren closes the episode by touching on early season injuries, the 3 stars of the season's opening week and the fanbases that are already in panic mode.

Daren is joined by Rick Tocchet (1:30). Tocchet explains how he's preparing for his new role with Turner Sports, talks about his long-time relationship with Wayne Gretzky and why he will be more than happy to disagree with him on television. He shares a story about a secret he had to keep while rooming with Gretzky (8:50) and talks about the "team" atmosphere that they are trying to build on the Turner set. Daren asks him about Tampa Bay's quest for a 3rd straight Stanley Cup, the questions surrounding the Maple Leafs and the Golden Knights having to rely on Robin Lehner as their No.1 goalie (14:00). Rick played with a lot of GREAT players, including Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros and he explains what it was like playing with premier players and is asked how Connor McDavid stacks up with those guys (12:00). What's the over/under on Paul Bissonnette slipping up and using foul language on the Turner set? Rick explains how Biz is going to handle the new gig and why the Turner producers have set the entire panel up for success (26:36). Daren wraps up the episode with some BOLD PREDICTIONS for the 2021-22 season and we'll tell you right now, one of his predictions is as outlandish as can be... it's bordering on insane (35:55).

Daren is joined by Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato (42:00) and John Shannon (1:30). Daren hits on a number of topics with Granato, including Jack Eichel's future and Don's long-time relationship with Jack, the approach he took when he was the interim coach, the improvement he saw from players like Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin, how he prepared himself through the years for this opportunity and what he likes about the future of the Buffalo Sabres. Shannon and Daren chat about the coronation of the Tampa Bay Lightning, argue about whether or not Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best player in the world and touch on off-season topics including the Expansion Draft, NHL Draft and decisions surrounding the Winter Olympics. Shannon also touches on the legacy of NBC and ESPN and Turner taking over the broadcast rights in the United States.

Daren is joined by Dave Hakstol to talk about being the first head coach of the Seattle Kraken (5:00). Dave explains how the opportunity came about, the philosophies he shares with Kraken GM Ron Francis and why he's so grateful for another chance to coach in the NHL. He talks about how analytics is incorporated into his coaching style and shares the best advice he's ever got from one of his mentors (it has to do with dogs). He looks back at his experience coaching in the NCAA and with the Philadelphia Flyers and the lessons that he will take with him to Seattle. Dave believes there's an opportunity to be competitive in the first year and is looking forward to building a winning culture in Seattle. Keith Jones (32:00) also joins Daren to talk about the Stanley Cup Final, Nikita Kucherov, Carey Price, Tampa Bay's ability to play multiple styles and joining Turner Broadcasting (he received a special phone call to find out he got the gig). He shares a story about how one of his coaches motivated him to get in shape early in his career and explains how Darren Pang was a key mentor for him during his early days in broadcasting.