Tri-State Hockey Podcast

NHL Free Agency is officially behind us, and it's time to break down what it all means for the Metro Division.

On Episode 51 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus and Mike Rupp dive into the New Jersey Devils' aggressive offseason, the New York Rangers' biggest additions and remaining questions, and whether the New York Islanders have done enough to stay in the playoff picture.

The guys discuss Nico Hischier's extension, the Jacob Markstrom trade, the Devils' Barrett Hayton offer sheet, the Rangers' revamped roster, power play options, playoff expectations, the Islanders' quiet...

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast! Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Stanley Cup Champion Mike Rupp reunite to tackle some of the biggest questions facing hockey in the New York market and across the NHL. The show kicks off with a thought-provoking voicemail from a concerned Rangers fan asking whether the New York Rangers are still viewed as a premier destination for star players and whether criticism surrounding Chris Drury is beginning to impact the organization's reputation. The crew dives deep into the changing landscape of player empowerment, discusses the Rangers' current direction, and examines what the...

Former New York Rangers Head Coach Gerard Gallant joins Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp on Episode 49 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365. Gallant looks back on his time behind the Rangers bench, the pressure of coaching in New York, developing young stars like Alexis Lafrenière, Kaapo Kakko, and K'Andre Miller, and whether their usage was fairly criticized. He also reflects on the Rangers' deep playoff runs, Chris Kreider’s breakout season, coaching in Vegas and helping build the Golden Knights into a powerhouse, and what made that expansion group so special.

Tur...

Jonny Lazarus and Arthur Staple are back for Episode 48 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365, with a special guest filling in as Mike Rupp is unavailable. Tony DeAngelo joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation covering the New York Islanders season, expectations entering the year, injuries, playoff aspirations, and why things ultimately did not go according to plan. Tony also shares his perspective on watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs unfold from the outside, the intensity of postseason hockey, and some of the biggest storylines shaping the NHL right now. The crew dives into playoff battles, team outlooks...

Lou Lamoriello joins Episode 47 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365 alongside Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp for an incredible conversation covering decades of NHL experience, Stanley Cup stories, team building, the evolution of hockey, and much more. Lou shares his thoughts on the Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres playoff series, the rise of young stars like Matthew Schaefer and Zach Benson, the future of college hockey development, analytics in today’s NHL, and how the league has changed over the years. He also reflects on the New Jersey Devils dynasty teams, building winning cultures in Ne...

Episode 46 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365 is PACKED with NHL Draft Lottery reactions, Auston Matthews trade speculation, and offseason chaos around the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down the NHL’s revamped draft lottery process, debate whether the Leafs winning first overall will fuel conspiracy theories, and discuss what Toronto landing the top pick means for the future of Auston Matthews, John Chayka, and Mats Sundin. The crew also dives into the Rangers dropping to 5th overall, possible trade-up scenarios in...

Episode 45 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365 features Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp bouncing around the biggest storylines in the NHL playoffs, the draft lottery, and the latest surrounding the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils. The guys react to the chaos of the first round, including Anaheim’s rise, Minnesota eliminating Dallas, Montreal’s run, and what it all means for teams that missed the playoffs. They dig into Quinn Hughes’ massive impact with Minnesota and why it could be a nightmare scenario for Devils fans hoping for a future Hughes reunion in New Jersey. Plus, they d...

Episode 44 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is a full New York Islanders postmortem as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down a season that started with promise and ended in collapse. From Matthew Schaefer’s historic rookie campaign to Ilya Sorokin masking deeper roster flaws, the guys dive into what went wrong and why this team couldn’t sustain success. They debate the impact of Pete DeBoer behind the bench, whether this core has hit its ceiling, and what changes are actually realistic this offseason. A packed voicemail segment fuels discussion around fixing the blue line, navigating rost...

Episode 43 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is here as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp dive into a full New Jersey Devils season postmortem and what comes next for the franchise. The guys break down the early Stanley Cup Playoff storylines, including the dominance of the Philadelphia Flyers and what it reveals about structure, defense, and rush chances. They then shift focus to the Devils, reacting to Sunny Mehta’s introductory press conference, his analytics-plus-intuition philosophy, and what it means for the organization moving forward. From coaching uncertainty around Sheldon Keefe to roster decisions, defensive concerns, and fan ex...

The Rangers’ season is officially over, and that means it’s time for a full post-mortem. On Episode 42 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365, Jonny Lazarus is joined by Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp to break down everything that went wrong for the New York Rangers this season. From the early-season offensive struggles and major injuries to questions about the team’s leadership, roster construction, and front-office direction, the guys take a deep dive into how the year unraveled.

They also debate what comes next for the Rangers — including whether the team should trade a potentia...

Episode 41 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is a full-on postmortem for the Islanders, Devils, and Rangers after all three teams officially miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple react to the Islanders’ collapse, debate whether major roster surgery is finally coming to Long Island, and dig into the criticism surrounding Matthew Darsch, Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, and the trade-deadline additions. The guys then shift to New Jersey to talk about the Devils’ line combinations, Connor Brown’s fit, Dawson Mercer’s future, and the team’s goaltending plan heading into next season. They wrap...

Episode 40 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by bet365, features Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp breaking down a huge week for all three local teams. The guys start with the New York Islanders and the early impact of Pete DeBoer behind the bench, including what changed in the win over Toronto, the importance of Tony DeAngelo, Kyle Ritchie’s growing role, Matthew Schaefer’s rise, and what the playoff push means for the organization. Then the conversation shifts to the New York Rangers as the crew digs into the criticism surrounding J.T. Miller, what captaincy in New...

Episode 39 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by bet365 is loaded with major Metropolitan Division storylines as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down a wild stretch of news around the Devils, Islanders, and Rangers. The guys open with reaction to the New Jersey Devils firing Tom Fitzgerald and what the timing means for the front office, Sheldon Keefe, and the future of the organization. They also dig into Jack Hughes’ growth, the Devils’ long-term ceiling, and why this team could still be closer to contention than people think. Then the conversation shifts to Long Island as the...

Episode 38 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is packed with chaos, trade talk, playoff pressure, and big-picture NHL debate as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple break down everything happening around the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders. The guys open with the wild goalie fight between Igor Shesterkin and Jacob Markstrom and what it says about the Rangers’ toughness, swagger, and carryover into next season. From there, they dive into the Brady Tkachuk-to-New York conversation, what a potential trade package could look like, and whether he is the exact type of player the Rangers need. The Devils conversation follows with a...

On Episode 36 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple welcome a very special guest — Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup Champion Scott Niedermayer. The legendary defenseman joins the show to reflect on his incredible NHL career, from winning multiple Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils to capturing Olympic gold with Team Canada. Niedermayer shares stories from the Devils’ fierce rivalry with the New York Rangers, the culture built under Lou Lamoriello, and what made those championship teams so successful. He also discusses his transition from playing to working in hockey operations with...

On Episode 36 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple break down another wild week across the New York hockey scene, starting with the Islanders’ massive win over the Dallas Stars and the maddening inconsistency that continues to define their playoff push. The guys dive into Ilya Sorokin’s Vezina-worthy season, Matthew Schaefer’s growing impact on the blue line, the difference between New York’s best and worst performances, and whether Sorokin should be getting even more league-wide recognition.

They also get into the Islanders’ defensive issues, backup goaltending concerns, Tony DeAngelo’s...

On Episode 35 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple dig into a huge stretch run across the New York hockey landscape, with the New York Islanders taking center stage after a massive bounce-back win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The guys break down Ilya Sorokin’s Vezina-caliber season, Matthew Schaefer’s standout late-game defending, the Islanders’ blue line decisions, and whether Tony DeAngelo could be a long-term fit on Long Island. They also get into Mathew Barzal showing some fire in Montreal, the ongoing confusion around goalie interference, and what it all means for the Is...

Episode 34 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by No Vig, sees Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple break down a chaotic stretch in the Eastern Conference as all three Tri-State teams sit outside the playoff picture. The guys open with the Islanders’ brutal late-game collapse and what it means for their playoff push before diving into a Devils-heavy segment driven by voicemails, including Jack Hughes’ impact, his evolving leadership, and the ripple effects of his injuries. They also unpack the Olympic gold medal puck controversy and what it reveals about NHL players, the IOC, and the future of inte...

Episode 33 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig, features Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple breaking down the latest around the Islanders, Devils, and Rangers before being joined by special guest Peter Laviolette.

The guys open with a major night for Matthew Schaefer as he returns to Toronto with a massive crowd of support behind him, and what that moment means both personally and in the context of the Islanders’ playoff push. They also dive into Semyon Varlamov’s emotional return to the ice and what it signals about the end of his career.

Episode 32 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by No Vig, is a full voicemail edition as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple let the listeners drive the conversation.

The guys open with a Rangers-heavy discussion on Chris Drury’s lack of visibility with the fanbase before diving into Alexis Lafrenière’s recent offensive surge, what’s real, what’s situational, and whether his chemistry with Gabe Perreault could be a meaningful sign for the future.

They also shift to the Devils and break down Jack Hughes’ recent growth as a leader following h...

The Tri-State Hockey Podcast welcomes its first ever guest, as New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche joins Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple to break down the Islanders’ trade deadline moves, the decision to acquire Brayden Schenn, and how the organization is pushing toward the playoffs. Darche dives into his philosophy as a first-year GM, why players are increasingly willing to waive no-trade clauses to come to Long Island, and how the emergence of young star Matthew Schaefer has accelerated the team’s timeline.

The guys also discuss extending Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the leadership of Anders Lee...

Episode 30 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast is all about NHL Trade Deadline Day. Jonny Lazarus is joined by Mike Rupp and Arthur Staple as the trio dives into what to expect from the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils as the clock ticks toward the deadline. Will the Rangers hang on to Vinny? Could the Islanders shake things up to stay in the race? And are the Devils buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between? The guys break down the latest buzz, potential moves, and the biggest storylines surrounding the Tri-State teams on one of the...

Today’s Tri-State Hockey Podcast is packed as Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple rip through Trade Deadline week storylines across the Tri-State. The guys open on the Vincent Trocheck trade chatter and why his candid comments shouldn’t surprise anyone, then pivot into the bigger Rangers-picture conversation around Adam Fox and what a “retool” really looks like right now. From there, it’s into the mailbag and voicemails before a deep Islanders deadline segment — including which young pieces might actually have to move if the Isles want a true needle-mover. The show wraps with a Devils check-in, lineup decis...

Team USA captures Olympic gold — and the Tri-State lens makes it even sweeter.

Jonny Lazarus, Mike Rupp, and Arthur Staple are back with a special gold medal edition of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast breaking down the Americans’ championship run at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The guys dive into how the United States men's national ice hockey team handled the pressure on the biggest stage, the defining moments in the gold medal game, and which performances will be remembered for years to come. From the emotional tone-setters to the unsung depth pieces, they analyze what separated this group from...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 26 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by NoVig & Proraso — and this time they’re LIVE from the Atrium inside Ideal Glass Studios in New York City. In front of a packed Tri-State crowd, the guys kick things off by reflecting on the growth of the show and what it means to bring the podcast to a live audience in Manhattan. From there, they blend Milan Games analysis with Tri-State identity — breaking down Devils, Rangers, and Islanders representation, role usage in short-tournament hockey, specialty teams impact, and how Olympic deploy...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 26 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by NoVig — and for once, it’s a rare all-positive Tri-State check-in thanks to how the Milan Games have gone for the Devils, Rangers, and Islanders reps. The guys start with Jack Hughes looking like Team USA’s sparkplug despite limited minutes, why the “perimeter” criticism misses the point, and what his role could look like once the real tests arrive. From there, they hit Jesper Bratt’s struggles (and lineup questions), Simon Nemec thriving for Slovakia, and why Switzerland leans so heavily on N...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 25 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and today the vibes are mixed, with Islanders fans celebrating a sweep of the season series against the Devils and Rangers (owning the Tri-State area!), Rangers fans processing the underwhelming Artemi Panarin trade to LA and debating the team's direction, and Devils fans venting frustration amid another tough loss, Nico Hischier's accountability, and Jack Hughes' lingering injury heading into the Olympics.

The Rangers' Panarin trade dominates — the guys break down the return (prospects, picks, and that puzzling 2x$11...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 24 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and today the vibes are loopy amid trade deadline drama, with Rangers fans anxious about Artemi Panarin's future (Tampa emerging as a frontrunner?), Devils fans reacting to Jack Hughes' blunt media comments and Olympics dilemma, and Islanders fans eyeing a potential dip after two straight losses.

The Rangers' Panarin saga drags on — the guys debate rental vs. extension packages, potential destinations like Tampa, Seattle, or Vegas, and whether history repeats with Lightning poaching another star. Plus, a voic...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 23 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and today it’s voicemail-heavy with Devils fans feeling optimistic after a big win over Nashville (but concerned about Jack Hughes’ latest injury), Islanders fans riding high after sweeping the Rangers 4-0 in the Schaefer era, and Rangers fans firing back at that anonymous Isles caller from last episode.

The New Jersey Devils snapped a skid with a clutch win, led by Nico Hischier’s bomb and Dougie Hamilton’s resurgence — but Jack Hughes’ lower-body injury has everyone debat...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 22 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and today it’s Islanders heavy with a healthy dose of Rangers frustration (and zero Devils talk — sorry Devils fans, we’ll make it up to you Friday!).

The New York Rangers continue to sleepwalk through games, especially brutal slow starts that have become a multi-year epidemic. The guys dig into why the team can’t get out of neutral in the first 10 minutes, whether it’s personnel, motivation, accountability, or just the reality of a lost season. They...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 21 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and the Metro Division drama is at full boil.

The New York Rangers dropped "Letter 2.0" — Chris Drury's candid (and controversial) message to fans officially signaling a retool, confirming Artemi Panarin won't be extended, and putting the entire roster in play. The guys dive deep into what leverage (if any) the Rangers still have, whether Panarin needs an extension attached to maximize return, why Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider might actually bring the best value, and if this publ...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 20 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and the Metro couldn’t feel more split right now.

The New York Islanders are rolling, fueled by elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, a calm, unflashy dominance that has him firmly in the Vezina conversation. From shutting down Connor McDavid in Edmonton to the continued emergence of Matthew Schaefer, the Isles are winning with belief, structure, and timely offense — forcing real questions about whether this is the moment to push in chips or stay disciplined at the deadli...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back for episode 19 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig!

Finally, we hear from Tom Fitzgerald, and what classifies a player as a veteran?

PLUS ALL THE VOICEMAILS YOU CAN HANDLE!

Presented by Novig

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Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back for episode 18 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig — and the vibes are wildly different across the Metro once again.

The Islanders are riding high: incredible team camaraderie (that viral Anders Lee pond hockey video!), depth scoring, elite goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, Simon Holmstrom stepping up huge, and serious "Miracle"-level belief. Are they ready to push all-in before the window closes with Matt Schaefer's ELC?

The Devils finally show signs of life with a strong 60-minute effort against Minnesota — Nico Hischier dominant, Jesp...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back on episode 17 of the Tri-State Hockey podcast, and it was a rough one for two-thirds of the Metro teams. All three Tri-State clubs lost last night, but the vibes couldn't be more different:

The Islanders remain steady, showing heart and process even in defeat. Meanwhile, the Devils are in free-fall — fragile, broken, and searching for leadership after another ugly loss (including that brutal 9-0 beatdown). The Rangers continue their maddening inconsistency — hot starts, killer turnovers, no pushback, and a whole lot of "here we go again" energy.

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Stanley Cup champ Mike Rupp dive into Episode 16 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, unpacking a wild weekend of drama across the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils!

The crew starts with the Devils' boiling point: Fan frustration boils over with Luke Hughes getting booed relentlessly after a tough night—debating if it's misplaced anger, team accountability, potential shakeups (starting with GM Tom Fitzgerald?), and how the players and organization handled the fallout. They also hit on the Islanders' thrilling OT win over the Leafs, Matthew Schaefer's star-making performance (including that epic goal and To...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp kick off 2026 with a fiery Episode 15, reacting to the freshly announced Team USA Olympic roster and its massive implications for the Tri-State teams!

The trio unpacks the stunning Adam Fox snub—why he was left off despite his elite play, the potential fallout with Rangers management (including GM Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan), and what it means for Fox’s future in New York. They also debate other notable omissions like Jason Robertson, compare Seth Jones’ inclusion, and explore whether this could light a fire under Fox or spark...

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down the latest from the Islanders, Devils, and Rangers in this packed Episode 14!

The guys dive into Matt Barzal's passionate response to Mason Marchment, the Islanders' surging vibe under new management, the Devils' costly mistakes despite strong efforts, and whether Adam Fox's return can spark the inconsistent Rangers ahead of the Winter Classic.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Islanders Segment Begins (Barzal slash, team culture, Anders Lee extension talk)

27:54 - Devils Segment Begins (Sheldon Keefe debate, costly breakdowns vs. Capitals)

42:01...

Welcome to Episode 13 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, presented by Novig, as Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down a brutal week for all three teams — with the Islanders sliding, the Devils looking revived with Jack Hughes back, and the Rangers stuck in a full-blown offensive crisis. We start with the Islanders’ worst stretch in weeks, the impact of Bo Horvat’s absence, and whether anyone beyond Barzal can finish chances. Then it’s the Devils — Jack Hughes’ instant impact, the return of key pieces, and whether New Jersey is finally stabilizing defensively. Finally, we dive into four fiery R...

In Episode 12 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast presented by Novig, Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp break down a huge week across the Metro. The Devils grind out a defensive battle in Vegas, Brett Pesce returns in a big way, and Jake Allen steals the show. The Islanders fall short but their depth, trade-deadline decisions, and the Pageau/Lee dilemma spark a great debate. Then the guys close it out with Rangers talk and what's next for Artemi Panarin.

Young energy, team identity, and a fun voicemail that sets up the conversation.

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