The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast

Sidney Crosby continues to defy time, powering Pittsburgh to third overall in the league and second in the Metro under new coach Dan Muse, whose fresh approach seems to have rejuvenated the group. The Devils and Mammoth have become early-season storylines, each riding impressive win streaks and strong goaltending—Utah’s Karel Vejmelka leads the league in victories, with Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther driving the offence for new owner Ryan Smith’s surging franchise. New Jersey, meanwhile, keeps winning despite some major injuries, thanks to sharp special teams and depth scoring. In Ottawa, the Senators exploded for seven agains...

Brad Marchand’s emotional return to Boston as a Florida Panther stole the night. Marchand drew a penalty on his first shift, assisted on the ensuing power-play goal, and was visibly moved during a heartfelt tribute video. The guys agree his number will one day be retired in Boston. Elsewhere, the Devils are rolling after a 5-2 win over the Leafs, with Hughes and Hischier leading a team that finally looks like the contender Ray expected last year. Toronto, meanwhile, looked big and slow, Anthony Stolarz allowed five goals one game after publicly calling out his team's performance, and Dr...

Jonathan Toews scores his first as a Jet and shows he’s still got plenty left in the tank, while Mark Scheifele looks like a man on a mission to make Team Canada. In Vegas, Jack Eichel’s new contract hasn’t slowed him down one bit—he’s leading the league in points as the Golden Knights roll to the top of the Pacific. Vancouver’s dealing with tough injury news as Filip Chytil lands in concussion protocol after a heavy (and possibly late) Tom Wilson hit, and with Lekkerimäki also sidelined, the Canucks may be forced to hunt for c...

The fellas dig in on NHL Headlines, starting with Chicago’s 8–3 win over St. Louis as Connor Bedard notched three assists in his 29th career multi-point game, showing signs he’s entering another level. Buffalo exploded for eight goals to beat Ottawa 8–4, easing early pressure but not fixing their deeper issues, while the Senators clearly miss Brady Tkachuk and may have Steve Staios working the phones. Florida’s injury list grows with Kulikov and Nosek out, but Bill Zito’s team remains resilient. The Rangers’ odd 0–3 home record without a goal at MSG highlights their top-heavy lineup, and in Toronto, rookie...

The Panthers are silencing doubters with a hot start despite key injuries to Barkov and Tkachuk. Nathan MacKinnon is near the top of the scoring race, thriving alongside Martin Nečas as Colorado expects important clashes with Dallas throughout the year... and faces looming cap questions with Cale Makar’s next deal. Newly paid stars like Eichel, Kaprizov, and Connor are backing up their contracts with strong starts, and Team USA is shaping up to be a powerhouse for the Olympics. In Montreal, Lane Hutson’s eight-year extension locks in another key piece of the Habs’ young core, while Buffalo...

Jack Eichel inks an 8-year, $13.5M/year deal in Vegas, structured heavily with signing bonuses, while Kyle Connor lands an 8-year, $12M/year contract to stay in Winnipeg—a move the Jets had to make to retain one of their elite offensive weapons. In Edmonton, the Oilers stay active, adding Jack Roslovic on a 1-year “reset” deal and extending Mattias Ekholm for three more years, ensuring stability on the blue line. Ray shares notes from Pittsburgh’s perfect opening night, where Arturs Silovs earned a shutout and Crosby played with some large, new linemates. In Ask R&D Anything, the guys...

On the day Connor McDavid signs a 2-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers (and Jake Walman for 7 years) we look at the powerhouses in the Pacific Division. Mitch Marner could be the ticket to put Vegas back into contention. Colorado and Dallas expected to slug it out in the Central (don't forget about Winnipeg). Tampa Bay looks to still be very much in the mix in the East... their rivalry with the Panthers will continue to be a big story throughout the season. Carolina looks to make a play to top the Metro with their offseason acquisitions... but are...

The guys break down Luke Hughes’ 7x9M deal in New Jersey and how it sets the stage for future contracts like Lane Hutson’s in Montreal. They dive into NHL.com’s Super 16 rankings, with Vegas at #1, Edmonton sitting higher than Ray thinks they should be and Florida’s injury-driven slide. The Panthers lock up Niko Mikkola long-term after he flourished in Florida, while Carter Hart is expected to land in Vegas following his eligibility to sign. An NHL exec hints at possible expansion by 2–3 teams within three years, raising concerns about diluting the talent pool. Plus, the show refle...

This week the guys break down Kirill Kaprizov’s massive 8-year, $136M extension in Minnesota and what it means for any other impending extensions this year or next. Meanwhile, Anaheim bets long term on Mason McTavish with a 6-year pact that could set him up for another big payday at age 28. The Leafs lock in goalie Anthony Stolarz on a cap-friendly deal, banking on him staying healthy after a career-best season, and the Panthers face a brutal start with Aleksander Barkov out until April and Matthew Tkachuk sidelined for months. Plus, the Penguins give Marc-André Fleury a perfect sendoff wit...

On this episode, the guys break down the scrutiny in Edmonton over McDavid and Draisaitl having a rough night playing on the same line, why it’s not time to panic yet and where the team’s forward depth still looks thin without Zach Hyman. They touch on the lack of contract extensions for Edmonton’s Chris Knoblauch and Calgary’s Ryan Huska and whether Vancouver’s new coach Adam Foote brings a fresh perspective or a continuation of the Tocchet regime. The Senators look poised for another playoff run under Steve Staios and Josh Green after slashing 47 goals against la...

On this episode, the guys cover Alex Pietrangelo’s rehab in Vegas and his veiled suggestion that he might play again this season. Joe Woll takes a leave of absence from the Leafs and Alex Ovechkin enters his age-40 season with questions about how much he has left in the tank. They also look at PTOs around the league like Milan Lucic and Tyler Motte. How do the Montreal Canadiens make enough powerplay time for everyone after adding Noah Dobson to an already offensively gifted blue line. Plus, does Calgary has enough scoring punch, or could a Rasmus Andersson tr...

The boys are back! In our season premiere (beginning around 9:45), we look at Anze Kopitar preparing for a retirement tour after a Hall of Fame–worthy career, while big contract questions swirl around Kirill Kaprizov and Connor McDavid. Mitch Marner’s move to Vegas raises questions about fit and what the Golden Knights had to part with in order to fit him in, and in Toronto, Brad Treliving and Craig Berube face tough questions about replacing Marner’s production. We touch on Jonathan Toews in Winnipeg, the Jets’ looming Kyle Connor extension, and the future of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang i...

A number of pre-deadline trades and signings took a little bit of the shine off of July 1, but the Rangers and Hurricanes swung a big deal that saw K'Andre Miller head to Carolina and then sign a big extension. Can Mitch Marner follow in Jack Eichel's path to finding another level to his game in Las Vegas? The Maple Leafs extended Matthew Knies and made a couple of trades but, much like Edmonton, they are left looking for scoring help to round out their top 6 forwards. The Edmonton Oilers cleared some cap space but also lost a number of...

The Sabres and Utah Mammoth kicked off pre-draft activity with a notable trade sending JJ Peterka to Utah for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan, with Peterka then signing a 5-year extension. Buffalo’s next move may involve Bowan Byram, with several teams circling. Jamie Benn stays with Dallas on a 1-year deal, and their coaching search narrows to two candidates. Evander Kane heads to Vancouver for cap relief, likely filling a top-six role, while Trevor Zegras lands in Philly with low risk for the Flyers. The Leafs could eye Brad Marchand if Florida can’t re-sign him, though expectations shou...

The Oilers fell to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year, with Florida delivering near-perfect performances in Games 5 and 6 and showing superior depth, structure, and goaltending throughout the series. Injuries mounted on both sides, but Florida’s culture and cohesion carried them through, while Edmonton struggled without Zach Hyman and leaned too heavily on McDavid and Draisaitl, who couldn’t singlehandedly turn the tide. Sam Bennett earned the Conn Smythe with a historic playoff performance, and GM Bill Zito now faces the challenge of re-signing Bennett, Marchand, and Ekblad. Meanwhile, the Oilers enter a pivo...

The Oilers dropped Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final after a flat start and near-flawless performance from the Panthers, whose depth continues to shine, as each of their top 9 forwards now have 15 or more playoff points. Florida's relentless structure and experience, led by Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, overwhelmed Edmonton, who sorely missed injured Zach Hyman. Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins struggled, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still haven’t found their top gear in this series. The Oilers’ defensive pairings look fatigued, and goaltending remains a question heading into an elimination Game 6. The pressure is squarely on Edmo...

The Oilers clawed back from a 3-0 first-period deficit to win Game 4 in overtime, marking the first comeback of its kind in Stanley Cup Final history. A strong pushback, a timely goalie switch to Calvin Pickard and a spark from veteran Corey Perry’s locker room speech helped shift momentum. Blue-liner Darnell Nurse bounced back with a standout performance, Leon Draisaitl’s greasy OT winner capped the effort and despite continued discipline issues from Evander Kane (and others), Edmonton may hold a slight edge in the now best-of-three series. Meanwhile, the Rangers shake up their core, trading Chris Kreider to A...

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final unraveled early for the Oilers after a first-minute breakdown led to a Brad Marchand goal and spiralled into chaos, capped by a mercy pull for Stuart Skinner and a game full of penalties, missed assignments, and frustration. Evander Kane’s undisciplined play and a lack of composure across the roster derailed any chance at establishing a rhythm and the Panthers pounced on a discombobulated Edmonton team. Tensions boiled over late with line brawls and antics between benches—including Jake Walman’s water squirting and TNT's Brian Boucher catching stray splash damage. Florida, meanwhile, contin...

Pete DeBoer was fired by the Dallas Stars just days after their playoff exit, despite three straight conference finals and a strong record—his handling of goalie Jake Oettinger and blunt postgame comments may have factored in. Meanwhile, Marco Sturm (Boston) and under-the-radar Dan Muse (Pittsburgh) landed head coaching jobs as the NHL’s hiring cycle continues. On the ice, the Oilers took Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in OT with a picture-perfect team goal finished by Draisaitl, as captain Connor McDavid came alive late in the game. Sam Bennett’s controversial 1st period goal stood after a failed...

The Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Panthers and Oilers will begin Wednesday after nearly a week-long layoff, giving players rest but leaving everyone itching to play. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl appear calmer and more mature under the bright lights and the pressure of expectations this playoff season. The Oilers appear confident, despite missing Zach Hyman, while Florida enters the Finals healthy and battle-tested. Goaltending could be pivotal, with Stuart Skinner now facing a crease-crashing Panthers team and Sergei Bobrovsky posing a tougher test for Oilers shooters. Coaching styles also clash: Maurice is philosophical and chatty, Knoblauch quiet...

The Florida Panthers are headed to their third straight Stanley Cup Final after rallying past Carolina in Game 5, continuing the state of Florida's Eastern Conference dominance. Carter Verhaeghe scored the winner, showcasing the value of patience and great scouting. An awkward handshake moment between coaches Paul Maurice and Rod Brind’Amour sparked debate about who belongs in the post-series tradition. In the West, the Oilers prepare for Game 5 against Dallas with Mattias Ekholm expected to return from injury but Zach Hyman is likely out for the remainder of the playoffs. Evander Kane and Corey Perry could see increased icetime to...

The Oilers crushed the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 3, with Connor McDavid's late second-period goal shifting momentum after a strong Dallas frame. Coach Pete DeBoer admitted that moment deflated the Stars, who have allowed too many prime chances and seen several key forwards go quiet. Stuart Skinner has outplayed Jake Oettinger so far, especially in Game 3, and looks composed and confident. A missed puck-over-glass call on Brett Kulak turned into a pivotal non-penalty, while Petrovic's crushing hit sidelined Connor Brown. DeBoer gave a lukewarm endorsement of Oettinger’s play, as the series enters Edmonton’s window of dominance under Kris...

In Game 1 of the Western Final, the Oilers blew a 3–1 lead, taking three costly penalties that led to three Stars power play goals in a disastrous third period. Edmonton’s PK struggled and despite dominating early and looking faster, the Oilers were undone by Dallas’s depth, with Seguin and Duchene stepping up. In the East, Florida leads 1–0 after a chippy opener that saw Brad Marchand ejected after a shot from Gostisbehere sparked chaos. The Panthers look like the most complete team again, this year. Elsewhere, the Leafs have given the Islanders permission to speak with Brendan Shanahan, is the writ...

The Toronto Maple Leafs were humiliated by a score of 6-1 in Game 7 by the Panthers, capping off a meek exit with back-to-back home losses by a combined score of 12-2. Auston Matthews called out the team’s lack of cohesion and effort, while Ray questions the accountability at the top. Florida’s energy and depth overwhelmed Toronto, with the Leafs’ bottom six offering little resistance. Joe Woll wasn’t to blame, but goaltending and mental resilience seemed to be lacking. Offseason questions loom large: Shanahan’s future, whether or not Marner or Tavares return and a team in need of se...

In an update to today's earlier episode, Ray and Dregs update the official announcements of Adam Foote to the Canucks and Rick Tocchet to the Flyers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stars look like a complete team, with deadline pickups Granlund, Ceci (and Rantanen, of course) making big impacts as they took a 3-1 series lead over Winnipeg, who have now lost 9 straight road playoff games. Edmonton will try to close out Vegas on Wednesday. They have a 3 games to 1 advantage after a dominant shutout win on Monday, with Stu Skinner stepping up and the Oilers continuing their trend of peaking in games 4-7 of playoff series. Florida vs. Toronto might look like a coin flip on paper, but Game 5 feels like a must-win for the Leafs. Marner and...

Dallas takes a 2-1 series lead over Winnipeg after a controversial and confounding winning goal that has the Jets fuming. Mason Marchment’s tap of an official sparks debate over discipline standards, while Mikko Rantanen continues his playoff dominance. The Leafs and Panthers got nasty in Game 3, with questions swirling around OEL’s hit, Domi’s late-game penalty, and whether Matthews is in his own head. Sergei Bobrovsky has locked in after a rough start, and Berube may consider shuffling Toronto’s lines. Stu Skinner gets the start again for the Oilers, who coughed up Game 3 with defensive misplays, while Ve...

The Oilers earned a 2-0 series lead after winning a wild Game 2 OT thriller over Vegas, with McDavid and Draisaitl quiet until the game-winner, while depth continues to carry Edmonton. In Washington, Logan Thompson shut the door in the third to even the series with Carolina, who now head home to a rink where they’ve dominated all year. Toronto looks to take control of their series in Game 3 vs. Florida, with Nylander continuing his stellar play. Winnipeg hopes for a bounce-back in Game 2 against Dallas after a flat opener, while Mikko Rantanen stays red-hot for the Stars. Elsewhere, Jo...

The Oilers continued their playoff surge with a 4-2 comeback win over Vegas in Game 1, led by Corey Perry’s momentum-shifting goal and dominant second-period play. The Leafs also took Game 1 against Florida, though controversy surrounds the unpenalized hit by Sam Bennett that concussed goalie Anthony Stolarz. Huge weekend Game 7s saw Winnipeg stun St. Louis with a buzzer-beater and double OT winner, while Dallas mounted a third-period comeback to eliminate Colorado, giving coach Pete DeBoer a record ninth straight Game 7 win. The LA Kings parted ways with GM Rob Blake after repeated playoff exits. Meanwhile, Crosby, MacKinnon, and Fl...

The New York Rangers have hired Mike Sullivan as head coach in what’s expected to be one of the richest deals in NHL history. Tampa Bay’s elimination by Florida raises questions about Jon Cooper’s future with the team and speculation about other markets he might consider coaching in if a split were to happen. Edmonton bounced back from a tough start to their series to eliminate the Kings in six, but Ray isn’t convinced their current levle of play will be enough to get past Vegas. The Leafs closed out the Sens in 6 games thanks to Nylan...

The first round of the NHL playoffs is delivering big storylines on and off the ice. Rick Tocchet has reportedly turned down a 5-year contract offer from the Canucks, with the Flyers and Penguins believed to be circling, while Mike Sullivan looks as though he might land with the Rangers — and could command a massive $30M deal. Meanwhile, Aaron Ekblad was hit with a 2-game suspension for his forearm on Hagel, did the refs have other options to address it in-game?. On the ice, the Hurricanes rolled past the injury-riddled Devils and extended Taylor Hall, while the Oilers have fl...

The Canadiens showed great resilience in a Game 3 home win, though injuries to both starting goalies could hurt Montreal more than Washington. Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson sparked chaos with a fight on the Caps bench, while the Oilers edged the Kings in a wild game with Cal Pickard in net. Evander Kane’s strong playoff return helped Edmonton capitalize on a costly Kings challenge, could it be series-altering? Meanwhile, Brandon Hagel received a one-game suspension, Tkachuk and Gallagher lead Ray’s chirp rankings, Ottawa faces fines and elimination after some pregame shenanigans, and Winnipeg must regroup fast after a to...

Playoff intensity is here, and the storylines are already heating up. Travis Green's message to the Sens is undoubtedly to cool it with the penalties after gifting the Leafs too many powerplay chances—Ottawa looked solid 5-on-5, but inexperience showed. Mitch Marner led Toronto with 3 points in a one-sided opener. Carolina looked strong in their win over New Jersey, though injuries and a bizarre friendly-fire moment for the Devils are already concerns. Winnipeg rallied past a physical Blues team in game 1, an important opener for the Jets to win. LA’s home ice edge looms large against an Oilers squa...

Ray & Dregs Playoff Preview! Leafs will be a tough out if their stars show up, but the Senators bring energy and strong goaltending. Montreal fought their way into the postseason and are healthier than top-seed Washington, who have shown incredible consistency all season. Florida’s health is a question mark, and Tampa enters with Vasilevskiy in top form. Carolina vs. New Jersey will be low-scoring, can Markstrom steal it for the Devils? Winnipeg is out for redemption, but the red-hot Blues could push them into deep waters. Edmonton faces LA for the fourth straight year, but Ekholm being out an...

Injuries, rest and returns are a league-wide overarching theme as the regular season winds down. Connor McDavid made a surprise return in the Oilers' win over St. Louis, notching three assists including a key play on the game-winner. Edmonton isn’t the same without McDavid and Draisaitl, and getting healthy ahead of the playoffs is crucial. The Leafs dropped a rough one to the Panthers Tuesday, then bounced back against Tampa Bay behind a Matthew Knies hat trick on Wednesday, leading to much discussion about which Florida team the Leafs matchup better against. In Minnesota, a wild 8–7 OT win over...

Alex Ovechkin makes history by scoring goal 895 with a signature power-play strike. Plenty of praise and serendipity surround the goal itself and the way the teams and the league handled its celebration. Winnipeg ends St. Louis’ franchise-record win streak in a potential playoff preview. Calgary stays alive in the playoff chase but they're in a tough spot; Minnesota's strength of schedule could seal the deal for the Wild. Kings and Oilers both lose—seeding likely set with one head-to-head matchup left. Rangers exposed by Tampa; Ray sees major summer changes ahead. Is a KHL 49-goal scorer worth a look back...

Alex Ovechkin is three goals away from the all-time goal scoring record, and with seven games left, Ray is confident he gets there. Chatfield’s takedown of McMichael received unanimous condemnation... but will receive nothing from the Department of Player Safety. St. Louis is on a 10-game win streak, likely securing a wild card spot, with Doug Armstrong’s offseason RFA moves proving key. Minnesota’s hopes for playoff success rest largely on Kaprizov and Brodin’s returns, but their impact is uncertain. Montreal, Ottawa, and New Jersey each have compelling storylines, from Suzuki’s leadership to Staios’ smart moves and Hu...

The Jets have been the model of consistency, with their stars performing and Cole Perfetti emerging as a key piece. Trophy talk: Ray favours Draisaitl for the Hart Trophy as the league's only 50-goal scorer, while Hellebuyck’s case may be hindered by the sheer existence of the Vezina Trophy. Lane Hutson is now Ray’s Calder favourite over Celebrini. Niko Mikkola was fined $5,000 for a dying-seconds slapshot in the direction of Habs' David Savard, what's the likelihood of retaliation in the rematch? Ovechkin’s goal chase has extra cameras and plenty of hype, but Bettman and Gretzky won’t go on...

John Tortorella is out as Flyers head coach after a tough loss to Toronto and some telling post-game comments, with Brad Shaw stepping in as interim. The firing will spark fresh speculation about Rick Tocchet heading to the Flyers this summer, although his contract in Vancouver has a club option for next season. Meanwhile, the Canucks keep grinding out wins in an attempt to keep pace with St. Louis and Calgary in the standings. In Edmonton, injuries are piling up, with Stuart Skinner out again after a collision with Stars' forward Mikko Rantanen, fueling concerns over the team’s re...

Goalie interference controversy returns. Islanders had a potential game-winner overturned in a must-win game against Columbus. Coach Patrick Roy didn’t hold back postgame, questioning the consistency of the rule. Jakob Chychrun secures an eight-year extension with Washington, solidifying his place on a competitive team. In Vancouver, Thatcher Demko’s return sparked a shootout win, raising hopes for a strong finish. With McDavid and Draisaitl sidelined, the Oilers risk losing ground in the division race.

In Ask Ray & Dregs Anything: The Keefe/Kovacevic controversy, how dangerous are teams that get hot late, and text messages that people were...