Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network's EJ Hradek (14:33) to discuss the two big trades made last week with Quinn Hughes heading to Minnesota and the goalie swap between Edmonton and Pittsburgh. Does Hughes heading to Minnesota shift the balance of power in the Central Division and what are the chances of him re-signing with the Wild? Plus, a look at the GM change in Buffalo and a discussion on what may be the next move for the Sabres... a coaching change? a roster shakeup? The guys also play a little "In or Out" in regards to the Olympic rosters. Bedard, Celebrini, Geekie, DeBrincat, Pettersson and Wallstead are all up for debate.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Bill Guerin (12:38) to talk about the Olympics, how Team USA's roster is shaping up, the impact of the rink dimensions and his Olympic experience. He also chats about how the Minnesota Wild rebounded from a miserable start to the season and the emergence of his goalie tandem. The guys start the episode talking about the League's two best teams, the Avalanche and the Stars and also dissect the Washington Capitals, while looking at Logan Thompson and Team Canada's goalie situation. They wrap up with an update from the Board of Governors meeting, analyze the Quinn Hughes trade rumors and have discussion on the Chicago Blackhawks and the decisions Kyle Davidson will have to make with the roster.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Dean Evason (13:23) to talk about the Blue Jacket's early season success, the parody of the NHL, the tight Eastern Conference standings, Jet Greaves' emergence in the crease and how Zach Werenski stacks up with other top defensemen in the NHL. The guys start the episode dissecting the stellar play of the Avalanche, Stars and Wild in the Central Division and analyzing Jordan Binnington's poor start and diving into his feisty encounter with Blues coach Jim Montgomery. They wrap the episode opening up the mailbag and diving into what the Canucks will do with Quinn Hughes and what teams might be a good fit to acquire him. Plus, thoughts on the Florida Panthers and goalie situation in Edmonton.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Islanders GM Mathieu Darche (19:50) to talk about Matthew Schaefer's development, Bo Horvat's start and Patrick Roy's coaching style. The guys also get into Barry Trotz calling out the Predators, rookie goalies making an impact, the Minnesota Wild's hot streak and update the Trophy Tracker ahead of American Thanksgiving.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood (13:15) to talk about his start to the season, the Avs success, his Olympic chances and some of the intricacies behind the goalie position. The guys start the episode talking about Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard, their Olympic candidacy and whether or not the Blackhawks are a playoff team. They wrap the episode up chatting about the Toronto Maple Leafs struggles, the NY Islanders and the freak injury to Jack Hughes and what it means for the Devils moving forward.
Dan and Shawn are joined by former NHL defenseman and current Tampa Bay Lightning analyst Braydon Coburn (16:00) to talk about the team's slow start, Brayden Point's struggles and Jon Cooper's strengths as a coach. He also chats about the surprising start to the season for the Anaheim Ducks and marvels at Matthew Schaefer's play at such a young age. The episode features conversations about the upstart Anaheim Ducks and their sustainability, the Colorado Avalanche and if they're the best team in the League, and if there is room on the Canadian Olympic team for both Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard.
Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger (16:25) to talk about the state of the Maple Leafs, their lack of scoring and their efforts to replace Mitch Marner's playmaking ability in their lineup. Plus, he talks about his conversation with Bill Armstrong of the Utah Mammoth and provides some perspective on Joe Thornton as he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame next week. The guys start the episode discussing the Anaheim Ducks, Cutter Gauthier's high level of play and whether or not the team's success is sustainable in the Western Conference. Plus, Dan opens up the mailbag to talk about Cale Makar's next contract and what it could end up being. They wrap the episode up chatting about whether or not the Nashville Predators and Steven Stamkos could part ways at the Deadline and what teams could be a good fit for the 35 year-old winger.
Dan and Shawn react to Tuesday night’s Frozen Frenzy, including Dan’s behind-the-scenes experience observing ESPN’s production of the event. The guys follow with reaction to Alex Ovechkin’s slow start to the season as he remains stuck on 899 career goals and Pittsburgh’s hot start to the season, and whether or not the Penguins can sustain their early success while led by aging stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The duo then debates the sustainability of Connor Hellebuyck’s workload in Winnipeg and whether the Maple Leafs can resurrect early struggles or if Toronto’s playoff chances are in doubt.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes (15:04) and Daren Millard to talk about the Vegas Golden Knights hot start (35:22). The guys start the episode looking back at Brad Marchand's return to Boston and play "In or Out" -- do they believe in the Utah Mammoth, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs ? They also discuss the Blackhawks re-build, cover the NY Rangers scoring woes and look at the NJ Devils start with a healthy Jack Hughes.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Edmonton Oilers rookie forwards Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie (17:47) to talk about adjusting to the NHL game and lifestyle while learning the ropes from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. In addition to a conversation with the Oilers' rookies, some of the topics covered in this week's podcast include the hot start to the season for the Boston Bruins and goalie Jeremy Swayman, the cold start for the struggling Buffalo Sabres, first impressions of New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the Rangers inability to score at home, Brady Tkachuk's injury and the impact it will have on the Ottawa Senators and, potentially, the United States Olympic team, and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson's new contract.
As the puck drops on the 2025-2026 season, Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika (18:47) to discuss Mitch Marner’s debut with the Vegas Golden Knights and Gavin McKenna’s collegiate debut with Penn State, and NHL.com senior writer Tom Gulitti (38:51) to chat about Alex Ovechkin’s future in Washington as the 40-year-old superstar starts his 21st NHL season. The guys open the show with reaction to this week’s season-opening storylines and Connor McDavid’s extension in Edmonton. Dan and Shawn close the show with their predictions for this season’s major award winners.
In the first episode of the new season of @TheRink, Dan and Shawn are joined by TNT lead analyst Eddie Olczyk (9:17) to preview the 2025-26 season. The guys open the show with reaction to the Minnesota Wild signing Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year $136-million extension and how the deal resets the market, including future deals for high-profile free agents such as Connor McDavid. After the interview, Dan and Shawn make preseason predictions including their picks to win each division and the Stanley Cup, plus Dan’s big bold prediction for the season.
Dan and Shawn react to some of the offseason’s biggest acquisitions, including Mitch Marner’s eight-year mega deal with Vegas, and why the former Toronto star may thrive with the Golden Knights. The guys also discuss the ripple effect of Marner’s signing and what it means for Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo’s futures with the team. Later on, Dan and Shawn react to Carolina’s additions of Nikolaj Ehlers via free agency and K’Andre Miller via trade, and whether this offseason’s new additions will help the Hurricanes take the next step and surpass the Panthers in 2025-2026. The guys also call out a few Eastern Conference teams who have disappointed with their lack of action this offseason. Dan and Shawn wrap the show by discussing the game-changing news of projected 2026 No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna’s decision to leave the CHL and play college hockey at Penn State.
Dan and Shawn are joined by Mike Morreale (15:53) to talk about the NHL Draft, he predicts, as many have, that 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League will go to the New York Islanders with the No. 1 pick. But Morreale goes way beyond just the prediction, backing it up with facts and information about Schaefer, including how he got to be the consensus No. 1 despite playing only 17 games this season. Morreale also discusses many of the other top prospects, including Michael Misa of Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League, James Hagens of Boston College, Porter Martone of Brampton in the OHL, and Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund of Djurgarden in Sweden. The guys start the episode breaking down the widely reported four-year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and how the NHL and NHL Players' Association got to this point with such a strong working relationship. They close the episode discussing some of the moves we've already seen, including the Utah Mammoth acquiring forward JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan, and forward Evander Kane being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Vancouver Canucks.
Dan and Shawn react to the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup Champions by closing out the Edmonton Oilers in six games, including a detailed statistical breakdown to explain how the series did not play out nearly as tightly as it appeared. Next, Dan asks Shawn if Florida has earned “dynasty” distinction on the heels of three straight Cup Final appearances and back-to-back titles, followed by a debate about Florida’s chances to three-peat next season. The guys continue by heaping praise on Matthew Tkachuk for another stellar postseason run while battling through injury. Dan and Shawn wrap the episode with a look ahead for Edmonton, and whether or not the Oilers need to make a change in goal after benching Stuart Skinner mid-series.
From Matthew Tkachuk talking about the experience of having a chance to win the Stanley Cup at home to Connor McDavid discussing, and disagreeing, with the pressure he's under, this episode covers all the storylines in advance of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Dan and Shawn start by talking about how the Panthers put themselves on the verge of winning their second straight Stanley Cup championship. That leads the conversation to what's at stake in Game 6, the discussion goes to McDavid and if he's under the most pressure right now. Roarke disagrees, because he doesn't think McDavid's legacy will be defined by championships won. Rosen thinks part of his legacy will be defined by winning a Stanley Cup. McDavid weighs in on the pressure too followed by Tkachuk discussing what it will be like to go up against a desperate McDavid in Game 6. They also talk about the Oilers' comeback ability, with Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch discussing the team's resiliency, where it has shown up this postseason and why. Before putting a bow on the Stanley Cup Final talk, Rosen and Roarke talk about Edmonton's goaltending situation, the fact that Knoblauch hasn't yet announced if the Oilers starting goalie in Game 6 will be Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard. Finally, they talk about the Olympic announcements that came out Monday, with all 12 competing nations in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in February announcing the first six players to their rosters. Neither the United States nor Canada named a goalie. Is that a surprise or was it expected? And which underrated national team should we all be watching come February?
Dan and Shawn are joined by Sportsnet reporter Gene Principe, who has the pulse of the Edmonton Oilers, to discuss the adjustments needed for Game 4, the status of Stuart Skinner and potential lineup changes that Kris Knoblauch may be considering. He also talks about Zach Hyman's absence and why the loss of Hyman shouldn't be overlooked during this series against the Florida Panthers. The guys open the episode looking ahead to Game 4 and wondering how the Oilers can get back to their game. Is Sam Bennett the Conn Smythe favorite right now? They answer that question and look at the impact that Jonah Gadjovich in Game 3. They wrap the episode talking about the maturity of Gus Forsling, the Chris Kreider trade rumors and TJ Oshie's retirement.
Dan and Shawn are in Florida and sat down with Florida Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich (17:00) to talk about the difference between last year, when he was a black ace, to now playing in the series. He discusses the challenge of slowing down Edmonton's top players, how the Panthers are staying loose as a group and why his playoff beard has posed some personal problems during this playoff run. The guys open up the episode talking about all the Cup Final storylines after the first two games and they wrap up the episode chatting about the Stars coaching change, the Penguins hiring Dan Muse and the return of David Quinn to the NY Rangers as an assistant coach.
Dan and Shawn, recording the episode on site at Rogers Place, dive into the details of rematch that we have in store for us in the Stanley Cup Final. They talk about the Oilers and their chase for the Cup after coming so close last year, losing in Game 7 by one goal to the Panthers. They discuss the Panthers and if winning the Cup again this season will make them a modern-day NHL dynasty. McDavid and what winning the Stanley Cup means for his legacy is a big part of the show, especially when Rosen and Roarke bring in NHL.com's Edmonton-based staff writer Derek Van Diest to go into all the details of what has led the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Final. Van Diest, with an assist from Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch, talks about the differences in the Oilers from last year to this year and why it can be series-changing for them. Van Diest also talks about what Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner went through after losing Game 7 to Florida last season and his process for overcoming that loss. Later in the episode, NHL.com's Washington-based senior writer Tom Gulitti joins Rosen and Roarke to go into Panthers talk, specifically about the impact Marchand has made since getting traded to Florida, Aleksander Barkov's role in keeping the Panthers on an even keel, the three players that play the villain role and why it all makes the team, according to Roarke, seem like a biker gang. They close the show by giving their predictions for the series and why they're leaning the way they are with Rosen saying their will be a new Stanley Cup champion and Roarke disagreeing.
Rosen and Roarke dig into the Conference Finals. They highlight Edmonton’s defensive growth, Stuart Skinner’s bounce-back performances, and how the Stars are feeling the pressure. The duo also break down what’s holding the Hurricanes back and why it has nothing to do with Rod Brind’Amour. They explore Carolina’s style of play and what key piece might still be missing. To wrap up, they discuss Jeff Blashill’s hiring in Chicago and whether patience is truly the best path for a second time NHL head coach.
Dan and Shawn react to Game 1 of both the Western and Eastern Conference Final. They discuss the the Hurricanes struggles to score, the antics that took place between Gostisbehere and Marchand and some of the inexperienced defensive play that is plaguing the Canes. What happened to the Oilers in the 3rd period? The guys look at the Stars comeback and dissect Stuart Skinner, Evan Bouchard, Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger. They also talk about some of the off-the-ice news around the League, including the Bruins giving general manager Don Sweeney an extension and the expected fallout from the Toronto Maple Leafs losing to the Panthers the way they did. Listen to hear their opinions on the futures of Brendan Shanahan, Mitch Marner and John Tavares.
Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com's Toronto-based staff writer, joins co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke to break down the Eastern Conference Second Round, starting with Auston Matthews and the Leafs-Panthers series. The crew debates whether Matthew's scoring drought is concerning or if his impact in face-offs and other areas suggests he's still playing a key role. They also look at Matthew Tkachuk’s influence on the series. The conversation shifts to the Hurricanes-Capitals series, where all three defend Carolina’s disciplined style, with Shawn calling it “beautiful” and undeniably effective. Before the interview, Dan and Shawn dig into the Golden Knights-Oilers matchup, praising Edmonton’s bounce-back Game 4 shutout after a defensive lapse in Game 3. They also touch on Miro Heiskanen’s return, Mikko Rantanen’s performance, and coaching changes around the league.
Former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau (12:25), who works as a studio analyst for NHL Network, joined Dan and Shawn to dive into the playoffs and touch on all four second-round matchups and provides opinions on the Capitals poor first game, the defensive strategy against Oilers and Stolarz/Bennett incident. The guys go deeper into the Maple Leafs and Panthers second-round series and what they're seeing from the Oilers so far during the playoffs. They also discuss the New York Islanders winning the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery and what changes the Los Angeles Kings need to make as they begin a search for a new general manager to replace Rob Blake.
NHL.com senior writer Amalie Benjamin joins Dan and Shawn from Florida to discuss the Panthers-Lightning series, Nikita Kucherov’s struggles, and the Lightning's offensive woes. She also weighs in on the Bruins season and whether Mike Sullivan could be a fit in Boston after parting ways with the Penguins. Before the interview, Dan and Shawn break down the Western Conference playoffs, including Kirill Kaprizov's impact, Jack Eichel’s struggles, and the wild Oilers-Kings series. After chatting with Benjamin, they discuss potential landing spots for Sullivan, Connor Hellebuyck’s struggles with the Jets, and Gabriel Landeskog’s return for the Avalanche.
Mike Rupp joins Dan & Shawn to recap the opening weekend of the 2025 NHL Playoffs. He dives into the Kings/Oilers series, what the Senators need to do down 0-2 against the Leafs, why he gives the edge to Colorado over Dallas, and shares his take on the Battle of Florida. Before Rupp jumps on, the hosts react to early playoff highlights. From Ovechkin’s OT winner to the chaos of Game 1 in LA and Matthew Tkachuk’s return. They close out the episode with a look at Lou Lamoriello’s future and a debate over which NHL coaching vacancy is the most promising.
Eddie Olczyk joins Dan and Shawn to dive into the biggest matchups and storylines heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He kicks things off with the Toronto Maple Leafs, explaining why they’re a different team under Craig Berube, and also highlights Claude Giroux’s influence on the Ottawa Senators this season. He then shifts focus to the Western Conference, discussing the challenge the Los Angeles Kings present and how the Central Division might shake out. Before the interview, Dan and Shawn break down the frantic finish in the Eastern Conference, focusing on the race for the second wild card between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets. They agree that whichever team clinches the spot could give the Washington Capitals trouble in the first round. After the interview, Dan and Shawn talk Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series and wrap things up with their predictions for the Stanley Cup Final.
Jean-Francois Chaumont joins Dan and Shawn to talk all thing Montreal Canadiens. Chaumont goes into how the team has been able to achieve winning mentality along with giving us deeper insight in Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and goalie Samuel Montembeault. In addition to chatting with Chaumont, Rosen and Roarke discuss Alex Ovechkin setting the NHL all-time goals record by scoring his 895th on Sunday. They discuss the most disappointing team of this season, and they breakdown the race for the NHL scoring title this season between Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon.
Tom Gulitti joins Dan and Shawn to talk all things Alex Ovechkin as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record. Tom reflects on covering Ovi over the years and discusses whether anyone else could ever chase the record if Ovechkin breaks it. Dan and Shawn open the show by breaking down the surging St. Louis Blues and what their playoff picture looks like. They also debate who’s more likely to win the Atlantic Division, the Maple Leafs or Panthers. They also preview the potential storyline of a Panthers vs. Senators matchup featuring a Tkachuk brothers. They wrap up the episode with thoughts on the Montreal Canadiens prospects and rookies, what the Flyers might do next, and some early trophy predictions.
Dan and Shawn are first joined by Kim Weiss, video coach for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, to discuss her trailblazing coaching journey, including becoming the first female coach of a North American junior team and now a video coach in the AHL. Later, Kori Cheverie, head coach of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire and assistant coach with Team Canada, talks about her coaching roles, learning from Mike Sullivan and Sidney Crosby, and the growing opportunities for women in hockey. Rosen and Roarke close the show with a look at Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, how injuries to McDavid and Draisaitl impact the Oilers, and a debate on a potential Capitals-Jets playoff matchup.
Anaheim Ducks forward, Alex Killorn joins Dan and Shawn to talk all things Ducks hockey. They discuss the growth he's seeing from the Ducks, the importance of playing meaningful games at this time of the season, what he's seeing from goalie Lukas Dostal and center Leo Carlsson and what it's like to be a veteran leader that young players look up to. Killorn also talks about his involvement with AstraZeneca & the Body Check Cup, which encourages fans to talk with their doctors about recommended cancer screenings. For more info, visit getbodychecked.com Prior to the interview with Killorn, Dan and Shawn discuss GM meetings this week and some potential rule changes like coaches challenge for goalie interference and overturned goals. After the interview with Killorn, the guys talk about the playoff race and more!
