The Chirp with Daren Millard

Daren is joined by Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. Rod is the winner of the 2020-21 Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year. He spends a half hour chatting with Daren about why winning the award is meaningful to him, how his dad impacted his hockey career, the many mentors he had as a player, his relationship with Tom Dundon and Don Waddell, why watching Sebastian Aho's growth as a player has been so satisfying and how he found his coaching style through the years. He explains why he doesn't love iPads on the bench, discusses why he uses his experience as a player in Carolina to motivate players, and shares an awesome story about how playing defense as a young player may have been the best thing that ever happened to him in his hockey career. It's a fascinating conversation and one that will leave you with an appreciation for Rod as a coach and as a person.

Daren welcomes Dan Feeney and Greg Van Roten of the New York Jets (4:20) to this week's episode and is also joined by Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson (23:59). Feeney and Van Roten talk about their love of hockey and how the Jets have come together to support the New York Islanders during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Van Roten is a lifelong Islanders fan and coordinated a few trips to Nassau Coliseum with his teammates (including Zach Wilson). Feeney had a great time, slugged a few beers in the stands and instantly became an Islander fan favorite. The two explain how it all happened and why Feeney (and his LGI mullet t-shirt) will forever be remembered by Islanders fans. *All proceeds of Feeney's t-shirt sales go to the National MS Society and can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/3pVHg6u Davidson talks about why he decided to go back to Columbus, what happened with the New York Rangers, the process of hiring a coach in Columbus, working again with Jarmo Kekäläinen, his desire to re-sign Seth Jones and Wayne Gretzky moving into the world of broadcasting.

Daren is joined by Hockey Hall of Famer Brad Park and 4-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Morrow. They take a trip down memory lane to discuss the 1983 Conference Final matchup between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders (the last time the teams met in the playoffs). The Bruins came into the playoffs as the top seed and the New York Islanders were a dynasty trying to win their 4th straight Stanley Cup. Park and Morrow talk about Nassau Coliseum and the Boston Garden, share memories of just how dominant Mike Bossy was in the series, the intense and physical style that Billy Smith brought to the rink, the coaching edge the Islanders had with Al Arbour behind the bench and the difference in experience between the two rosters. Park talks about just how tough it was to play against Bryan Trottier and Morrow explains the unique chemistry that Trottier and Bossy had both on the ice and off. It's an awesome conversation between two hockey legends with lots of stories, laughs and mutual admiration.

Daren is joined by Dominic Moore (3:10) to talk about the unlikely series in the North Division between the Jets and Canadiens. How do the teams stack up against each other? Plus, he talks about being a part of 4 teams in his career that came back from 3-1 playoff series deficits and what it does for a team's mindset. He tries to dissect what went wrong with the Maple Leafs and why Jack Campbell can't be blamed for the series loss. Daren is also joined by Meghan Duggan (35:51). She talks about why she's so excited to join the New Jersey Devils in a player development role and how she intends to leave an impact on the organization and its players. Meghan discusses how important it is for women to be represented in hockey and explains why it's always a winning proposition to include people from different backgrounds in hockey.

Daren is joined by Eddie Olczyk to discuss just how the Winnipeg Jets swept the Edmonton Oilers and what adjustments might have to be made to the Oilers roster in the future. Daren and Eddie ponder Connor McDavid's future and also talk about just how important the series win was for the Winnipeg Jets. Edzo dissects the Florida Panthers 3 goalie situation and breaks down why the Minnesota Wild are so tough to play against. He explains why the Colorado Avalanche will miss Nazem Kadri and talks about joining Turner Sports, having the ability to still work on NBC's horse racing coverage and now having a chance to work along side Wayne Gretzky at Turner.

Daren is joined by Mike Kelly of NHL Network and Sportlogiq to take a look at the analytical side of hockey. Mike previews the North Division playoffs and discusses the matchups through an analytical lense. What can the Montreal Canadiens do really well against Toronto? And why does Winnipeg have a shot of slowing down Connor McDavid and the Oilers? Plus, he talks about the Avs, Predators, Wild and Hurricanes. Mike also explains how analytics and certain statistics are used by coaches, players and television analysts to get a competitive edge and to help tell better stories. It's an awesome foray into the world of hockey analytics with one of the sharpest analysts in the game.

Daren is joined by Patrick Sharp at the start of the episode to preview the playoffs. He talks about the tactics Joel Quenneville has implemented with the Florida Panthers, the intrigue that surrounds Zdeno Chara squaring off against the Bruins, the unpredictable nature of this year's playoffs, the pressure the Toronto Maple Leafs face, the responsibility he feels and process he uses when voting for NHL awards, and he tells us the team that he thinks is an absolute lock to get to the semifinals. Renee Paquette joins (40:00) to share some quirky stories about being a Canadian living in Vegas and tries to explain why she had to transform from a Maple Leafs fan to a Golden Knights fan once she moved to Vegas. She talks about her interest in hosting TNT's NHL coverage and tells Daren who her ideal running mates would be on the panel. Who's her Charles Barkley? She discusses what she misses most about working in TV and how she went from hosting at the WWE to now having her own podcast and writing a cookbook (Messy in the Kitchen). She shares some stories about her husband, professional wrestler Jon Moxley, including some details with a run-in they and their dogs had with a few coyotes. How did Moxley scare them off?

Daren is joined by Dave Tippett to talk about Connor McDavid's ridiculous season, the unique nature of coaching McDavid and Draisaitl and what the expectations are for the Oilers as they head into the playoffs. He explains why he prefers to not have so many coaches on his bench and what Mike Smith brings to his team's locker room. He looks back at his Olympic accomplishments and discusses a trick he learned early on in his coaching career to avoid embarassing his family while interacting with referees. Where did his mustache go? The story may surprise you. Daren explains why 100 points for McDavid is going to happen and why the Canadian playoff matchups are so intriguing.

Daren starts the episode chatting with Ray Ferraro. Ferraro explains why the Maple Leafs power play has struggled recently, why voting for the awards this season is very difficult, and how he will lean on analytics more than ever as he determines who to vote for. He talks about how players on the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights can't fall in the trap of looking ahead to a potential playoff matchup and marvels at the depth of coaching in the NHL. Ray gives his picks for the Hart Trophy and the Calder trophy. Sam Bennett also joins Daren (41:00) to talk about getting traded to the Florida Panthers, playing for Joel Quenneville, learning the quirks of his new teammates, and playing more minutes for the Panthers. Bennett explains why it didn't work out in Calgary and discusses what his plans are for his mustache as he's now playing in Florida.

Daren is joined by Nick Foligno (3:00). Foligno talks about the emotions he felt when he found out he was being traded to Toronto and just how excited he is to join the franchise his dad played for and he rooted for as a kid. He discusses the logistics of quarantining and explains what it was like for him and his family on Trade Deadline day. He looks back on his time in Columbus with fond memories, but also talks about how rejuvenated he feels to be joining a competitive Maple Leafs squad. As a former captain, he talks about playing with veterans and leaders like Tavares, Thornton and Spezza and describes how pumped up he is to play with such top-not talent in Matthews and Marner. He shares some of his memories of rooting for the Maple Leafs as a kid, and explains how excited his father is for him to be joining the franchise. Ever wonder what happens on team text chats when a player is traded? Nick also discusses that, as well as so much more.

Daren is joined by Steve Brill (35:00), the creator and producer of The Mighty Ducks franchise and the new Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Brill talks about how he came up with original idea for The Mighty Ducks, why the time was right for a new Mighty Ducks series, what it was like writing and shooting the new series and how he views some of the classic Mighty Ducks characters. Before Brill, Daren wraps up the Trade Deadline with Dan Rosen, NHL.com Sr. Writer and co-host of the NHL @TheRink podcast (3:13). Rosen breaks down the Bruins acquisition of Taylor Hall and explains why the Capitals were comfortable with making the deal for Anthony Mantha. He also talks about how Jeff Carter helps the Penguins, why Nick Foligno made perfect sense for the Maple Leafs, and whether or not any of the deadline deals shifted the power rankings in the League.

Daren is joined by his old pal Darren Dreger for a trade deadline primer (3:15). Dreger talks about who he thinks are buyers and sellers across the 4 divisions and explains what teams are in the market for who and how this deadline is a little different than those of the past. The Minnesota WIld GM Bill Guerin (37:00) stops by to talk about his team, their development, the West race, how he will approach the trade deadline, the challenge of changing a team's culture and his dynamic rookie star Kirill Kaprizov. Guerin was recently named the Assistant GM for Team USA for the 2022 Olympics, he also talks about how pumped he is for the opportunity and how he's looking forward to working with Team USA GM Stan Bowman on constructing the Olympic team.

Daren welcomes in his old partners from Sportsnet's Hockey Central, Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean. They reminisce about their time working together, and share their opinions on why the show worked, the importance of building chemistry and the connection they made with many hockey fans. They banter about who the top teams in the NHL are, Brian Burke's return to the front office, the challenges that Kevyn Adams is facing in Buffalo & how the Club should handle Jack Eichel. Doug explains just how difficult it is to find premier players, and points out the importance of having bonified centers on your team (he points to McDavid, Matthews & MacKinnon). Nick believes that Eichel isn't in that class of players just yet, but could be in the right situation. Doug & Nick also offer their opinions on the Tim Peel incident, the importance of being cautious around hot mics, the role that referees play in game management and why the NHL had to take action in this case.

Daren is joined by Jon Hamm (2:30) to talk about a variety of subjects including fan gear etiquette (3:00), partying with the Stanley Cup (3:50), Jordan Binnington's new contract (4:15) the Blues reverse retro jerseys and his theory on why the Blues have struggled while wearing them (7:52). He explains how he became so connected with the Blues and how he forged relationships with players, specifically Chris Pronger, as a young bartender in St. Louis (10:30). He talked about turning 50 and his philosophy on birthday celebrations (18:30). He explains where he's at with Alex Pietrangelo since he left for the Vegas Golden Knights (20:30) and shares his opinion on this year's Blues team (29:40). He's been quite busy during the pandemic and discusses some of his upcoming projects and tells us what the best part of working on Maverick with Tom Cruise was and why he wasn't able to fly in a fighter jet (33:00). After the interview, join Daren for the after party as he reacts to Hamm's comments, while also explaining why he has officially declared the Hart Trophy race over (37:19).

Daren is joined by Katie Townsend and Kendall Tyson, two leaders with the Seattle Kraken (1:47). Katie is the Senior VP of Marketing and Communications and Kendall is the VP of Strategy & Business Intelligence. They discuss a wide range of subjects, including diversity & inclusion, the challenges of starting a professional sports brand during a pandemic, the obstacles faced and progress made by women in sports and the benefits that come with being a part of a diverse work environment. They also provide an inside glimpse of what's next for the NHL's newest franchise and give an overview of some of the excitement that's surrounding the team in Seattle. Following that conversation, Daren welcomes in Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke (41:08) to talk about his hiring philosophy, the importance of hearing from a variety of voices within the organization, and the excitement and anticipation he has as the expansion draft nears. He also gives an update on the arena and explains why Seattle is primed and ready for an NHL Franchise.

NBC's Mike Tirico joins Daren Millard (2:30) to talk about how a dinner led to him calling NHL games, his preparation prior to calling his first NHL game, the thrill of working the Lake Tahoe games & being able to navigate the weather delay in Lake Tahoe on the fly. He discusses why he's always been a fan of hockey, the uniqueness of calling hockey games compared to other sports, his relationship with Eddie Olczyk, the prospect of NHL players participating in the Olympics and the pros and cons of a 3 person broadcast booth. He tells us his favorite NHL uniform, what his nickname is, and what he prefers to munch on during a late-night hockey game. After chatting with Mike, Daren talks about the Calgary Flames hiring Darryl Sutter, and what he thinks the key is for the Flames to turn it around. He also makes a pretty bold prediction when looking at the North Division (47:30). He ends the episode with some thoughts and a unique perspective on the passing of Walter Gretzky (54:40).

Daren is joined by the captain of the Vegas Golden Knights Mark Stone and the two have an awesome conversation (4:26). Stone took the time on his off-day to talk about why he loves golf and what part of his golf game is holding him back from being a scratch golfer. He talks about what shooting an Apple commercial with Marc-Andre Fleury was like and discusses his desire to play in the Olympics, the reason he wasn't always the greatest skater and the part of his hockey game that has led to him being dubbed the "Larry Bird" of hockey. He describes the moment he decided to switch to a longer hockey stick and what it was like growing up with his brother and fellow NHLer Michael Stone (and why his parents had their hands full).... After the chat with Stone, Daren talks about Patrick Kane scoring his 400th goal, whether he will score 600 goals and why Kane is being overlooked as a potential Hart Trophy winner... his odds to win the Hart are quite JUICY (35:00). Daren also shares his thoughts on the Montreal Canadiens and whether the lofty expectations surrounding the Club this season were justified, and why it was time to make a coaching change in Montreal (41:30).

Daren is joined by the newly named Captain of the New Jersey Devils Nico Hischier (7:40). Hischier talks about playing his first game of this season and coming off of injury, how he found out about being named the Devils captain, the reaction from his teammates and opponents to the news, training with the Swiss military, his relationship with Lindy Ruff, how battling with Zdeno Chara ended up for him, why he doesn’t keep track of his statistics and what the expectations are for the New Jersey Devils. He discusses his love for traveling and why he forces himself to take a break from playing video games during the off-season. Daren talks about the escapades and deadly shot of David Pastrnak, the charm of Lake Tahoe and the consistency of the Boston Bruins (3:00). Daren also engages his Twitter followers by providing a snapshot of the league (32:30).... What jumps out to you? Hit us up using the hashtag #ChirpMallard

Daren Millard is joined by Brian Burke (5:40). Burke was recently hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins as the President of Hockey Operations and he talks about how the opportunity materialized, his relationship with Ron Hextall, his plans for the team, how he views the job at hand, how excited he is to work with Sidney Crosby and what he'll miss most about working in television. After chatting with Burke, Daren explains what he would do to if he was hired to remake the Penguins (45:38) and discusses Marc-Andre Fleury's renaissance (51:15) and whether he has a chance to win the Vezina. He also banters about the gold helmets that the Golden Knights recently sported (54:20), the superstition displayed by Mika Zibanejad & Brad Marchand (59:15) and why everyone should watch the Lake Tahoe games (1:02:00). Subscribe, rate, review and hit us up using the hashtag #ChirpMallard.

Daren is joined this week by Conor Garland (8:00). Conor explains why he's not a fan of lacrosse-style goal attempts (13:35) and talks about what it was like having Ryan Donato as his neighbor growing up (11:00), his connection to Tom Brady (8:30), how he's cultivating his piano playing skills (26:00), what he did to get more attention as a short hockey player (24:00), and his "welcome to the NHL" moment (23:00). Daren also tries to figure out who the best team is in NY (3:00), explains why he has no issues with lacrosse-style goal attempts (28:00), and discusses some drastic rule changes he'd like to see implemented (32:15). You can hit Daren up with your questions and comments by using the hashtag #ChirpMallard on Twitter. Remember to subscribe, spread the word and rate & review!

Daren Millard is joined by Pierre-Luc Dubois and his two bulldogs (5:17). Dubois talks about the circumstances surrounding his trade to Winnipeg, navigating the move to a new city, his quarantine schedule, and learning the ins and outs of a new system. He also discusses what it means to move to Winnipeg where his parents currently live and why he's looking forward to joining the Jets. Before Daren let him go, he had to see his Pierre-Luc's bulldog who was snoring away throughout the conversation (24:00). Daren also vamps about Connor McDavid's scoring surge (3:00), reverse retro jerseys (3:30), home-ice advantage (30:00) and takes some questions from listeners (33:40). Use the hashtag #ChirpMallard (not a typo, that's Daren's nickname) to submit your questions and thoughts.

It's the NHL debut of The Chirp with Daren Millard and joining in on the fun is reigning Stanley Cup winning head coach Jon Cooper (11:00). Cooper shares some awesome stories (11:30), talks about the maturation of Nikita Kucherov (22:00), reveals which of his players are the best chirpers (30:00), explains how he and his club rebounded from getting upset by the Columbus Blue Jackets and discusses why he heads to Idaho every summer. At the top of the episode, Daren breaks down the Dubois/Laine trade with a hot take and a smart take, and also explains why there's pressure on both the Blue Jackets and Jets to make the trade work (2:00). He talks about a surreal intervievw he once did with Patrik Laine (9:00)... check out the video on YouTube - https://bit.ly/3op0jUs and he salutes the early season offensive production of the Montreal Canadiens (47:00).

The Chirp with Daren Millard will feature free-flowing conversations with NHL players, coaches, executives, and respected media members. Daren will cover the biggest NHL topics like only he can, drawing on his and his guest’s unique perspective on the best sport in the world. Smart takes, spirited debates, and plenty of laughs, The Chirp is a must-listen for any NHL fan.