Empty The Benches

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Empty The Benches episodes

December 11, 2025 Quinn Hughes Rumors Heat Up (EP. 283)
In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Mackane Vogel dive into a variety of hockey topics, including humorous discussions about potential EBUG candidates, the latest trade rumors surrounding Quinn Hughes, the Colorado Avalanche's impressive performance, and a controversial hit by Jacob Trouba on Ryan Leonard. They also recap the week's games and engage in trivia, showcasing their knowledge of the NHL.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and E-Bug Discussion
04:07 Quinn Hughes Trade Rumors
08:54 Colorado Avalanche Dominance
17:50 Jacob Truba Hit on Ryan Leonard
26:25 Weekly ReCap and Trivia

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35 min
December 03, 2025 The Hawks Are Back In Black (EP. 282)
In this episode of Empty the Bench, Nick and Mac discuss their weekend adventures, including a snowy day filled with hockey and pizza. They dive into what NHL teams are thankful for this season, touching on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and San Jose Sharks. The conversation shifts to concerns about the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament, particularly regarding the ice surface size. They also highlight Tage Thompson's impressive retribution in a recent game. The hosts answer mailbox questions from listeners, covering various NHL insights and predictions. Finally, they recap the week for the Washington Capitals and provide updates on NCAA hockey.

Chapters
00:00 Weekend Recap and Snow Day Nostalgia
01:03 Thanksgiving Gratitude in the NHL
08:45 Olympic Hockey Concerns
14:20 Surprising NHL Standings
16:20 Tage Thompson's Retribution
17:58 Mailbox Highlights and Fan Reactions
25:04 Weekly Recap: Capitals' Performance
28:25 Analyzing Upcoming Games and Standings
31:12 NCAA Hockey Updates and Highlights
32:42 Trivia Time: Four-Goal Games in the NHL

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42 min
November 26, 2025 Chychrun Extends Point Streak (EP. 281)
In this episode, Nick and Mac discuss Mac's recent trip to Berlin, highlighting the unique hockey culture and experiences he had. They delve into Thanksgiving food preferences, share insights on NHL player performances, and speculate on the upcoming Olympic roster. The conversation also touches on the current state of the Canucks and the Capitals, along with a fun trivia segment about the Caps' all-time goal scorers. Finally, they provide an update on college hockey rankings and the competitive landscape of the sport.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back and Trip Highlights
04:04 International Hockey Experiences
10:33 Thanksgiving Food Favorites
15:07 NHL Updates: Rantanen and Stars Jerseys
20:01 Canucks' Confusion and Trade Talks
25:49 JT Miller's Olympic Prospects
28:55 Dylan Larkin vs. JT Miller: A Player Comparison
29:28 Team USA Olympic Jerseys: A Design Review
31:25 Goaltending Concerns: Connor Hellebuck's Injury
33:22 Olympic Venue Woes: Construction and Concerns
34:51 NHL Dumpster Fires: Leafs vs. Rangers
37:39 Avalanche Dominance: A Stanley Cup Contender?
39:54 Capitals Weekly Recap: Jacob Chickren's Performance
45:30 College Hockey Update: Sparty's Struggles
46:56 Caps Trivia: Top Goal Scorers in Franchise History

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56 min
November 20, 2025 Adrian Kempe Gets Paid (EP. 280)
In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Nick Bowins engage in a lively discussion covering a range of topics from fantasy hockey matchups to the Mount Rushmore of favorite players NOT on their favorite teams. They analyze Adrian Kempe's recent contract extension, Miko Rantanen's ejection, and the surprising injuries affecting NHL teams. The conversation shifts to the concerns surrounding the Capitals and Maple Leafs, a review of the Winter Classic jerseys, and a debate on who to choose in a shootout. They also touch on the Heart Trophy race and recap college hockey performances, concluding with a trivia segment.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Fantasy Hockey Banter
02:51 Mount Rushmore of Favorite Players
07:54 Adrian Kempe's Contract Extension
11:06 Miko Rantanen's Ejection and Fallout
13:49 Injury Surprises and Team Concerns
16:57 Future Prospects: Capitals vs. Leafs
20:03 Winter Classic Jerseys: A Fashion Debate
23:02 Shootout Skills: Who Would You Choose?
25:55 Heart Trophy Race: Early Favorites
27:49 College Hockey Recap: Spartans Shine
31:51 Trivia Time: Heart Trophy Winners

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35 min
November 13, 2025 Michigan State Stays On Top (EP. 279)
On this episode of Empty the Benches, host Nick Mannella and guest host Nick Bowins discuss a variety of hockey topics, including the recent Hall of Fame inductees, the exciting college hockey matchups, goaltending concerns in the NHL, a review of Canada's Olympic jerseys, and the surprising performance of the Anaheim Ducks this season. The conversation is lively and insightful, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the current hockey landscape. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into the current state of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, analyzing player performances, team dynamics, and the challenges each team faces in the NHL. They discuss the struggles of the Leafs' defense and goaltending, the impressive play of certain players like Tavares and Nylander, and the Capitals' recent games, including Ovechkin's milestone of reaching 900 goals. The conversation also touches on upcoming events in hockey, including an outdoor college hockey game.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Working in Hockey Update
02:58 Hall of Fame Inductees Discussion
05:59 College Hockey Highlights: Michigan State vs. Penn State
09:00 Goaltending Concerns: Freddie Anderson vs. Thatcher Demko
11:49 Canada's Olympic Jerseys Review
23:58 Anaheim Ducks: A Surprising Start to the Season
28:58 Toronto Maple Leafs: A Season in Review
40:16 Washington Capitals: Struggles and Triumphs
49:21 Exciting Upcoming Events in Hockey

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53 min
November 05, 2025 The Devils in the Details (EP. 278)
Nick and Mac are back for another episode! They kick things off with the return of the question of the day, introduce a new segment called Empty The Mailbox, and dive into the recent struggles of the Washington Capitals in the Weekly ReCap. During the episode they also touch on the dynamic duos in Colorado and New Jersey, the 2027 stadium series location, and the road struggles of the Florida Panthers.

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37 min
October 30, 2025 Harley & Cooley Extended + Frozen Frenzy Recap (EP. 277)
In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Mackane Vogel recount their recent adventures in Milwaukee and Chicago, including attending a Blackhawks game and hosting an event at their favorite bar, Elwoods. They share humorous anecdotes about meeting colorful characters and discuss the challenges of creating engaging trivia questions for their event. The episode also delves into recent NHL news, focusing on player extensions and team performances, with a particular emphasis on the Dallas Stars and the Washington Capitals. The hosts wrap up with a lively discussion on the NHL's Frozen Frenzy and their thoughts on various games and players.

Introduction and Milwaukee/Chicago Trip - 0:57.635
NHL Player Extensions Discussion - 9:22.228
NHL's Frozen Frenzy Recap - 15:46.998
Washington Capitals Analysis - 30:11.986

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38 min
October 16, 2025 The Rotten Big Apple (EP. 276)
In this episode, Nick and Mac discuss the excitement surrounding their upcoming event at Elwoods, the NHL game schedule, and predictions for various teams. They delve into the Capitals' recent games, the promising future of the Canadiens, and the struggles of the Rangers and Sabres. The conversation also touches on surprising performances in the NHL and wraps up with a focus on their event at Elwoods.
Chapters
00:00 Excitement for the Upcoming Event
03:02 NHL Game Schedule and Predictions
04:49 Business Ventures with NHL Players
10:27 Washington Capitals Performance Review
16:32 Montreal Canadiens' Promising Future
19:22 Concerns for the New York Rangers
23:24 Rangers' Scoring Dilemma
26:02 Buffalo Sabres' Struggles
33:58 Islanders' Concerning Start
38:19 Red Wings' Confusing Performance
43:17 Trevor Zegras' Transition to Philly

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46 min
October 11, 2025 NHL First Week Recap (EP. 275)
In this episode, Nick and Mac dive into the excitement of the NHL season, discussing the return of hockey, fantasy drafts, and significant player contracts. They analyze goaltending performances and the Washington Capitals' rocky start. The conversation shifts to team predictions and culminates in a detailed review of the new NHL jerseys, providing grades and insights on each team's design choices.
Chapters
00:00 The Excitement of NHL Season Return
01:12 Fantasy Hockey Draft Insights
06:02 Big Contracts: Eichel and McDavid
10:39 Edmonton Oilers' Early Season Struggles
15:25 Carolina Hurricanes' Strong Start
19:19 Washington Capitals' Disappointing Opener
27:21 Injury Controversies and Game Matchups
27:52 Exciting Upcoming Games
29:57 NHL Jersey Grades and Designs
41:38 Team Jersey Evaluations and Opinions
53:49 Final Thoughts on Jersey Designs
55:45 Wrap-Up and Future Expectations

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59 min
October 03, 2025 NHL Metro Division Preview feat. Mike Vogel (EP. 274)
In this episode, Nick and Mac from Empty the Benches dive into a comprehensive preview of the Metropolitan Division in the NHL. Joined by Washington Capitals senior writer Mike Vogel, they discuss each team's strengths, weaknesses, and expectations for the upcoming season. From the formidable Carolina Hurricanes to the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers, the conversation covers key player movements, health concerns, and the overall competitiveness of the division. The hosts provide insights into how each team stacks up against one another and make predictions on playoff potential, highlighting the evolving landscape of the NHL.

00:00 Metropolitan Division Overview
06:53 Columbus Blue Jackets: A Fresh Start
13:59 New Jersey Devils: Bounce Back Potential
19:06 New York Islanders: A Team in Limbo
26:17 The Development of Young Talent
28:20 Rangers' Bounce Back Expectations
32:20 Coaching Changes and Their Impact
38:10 Philadelphia Flyers: A Team in Transition
44:29 Pittsburgh Penguins: The Future of Sid Crosby
51:39 The Competitive Spirit of NHL Players
53:27 Analyzing the Washington Capitals' Performance
56:47 Team Dynamics and Coaching Impact
01:01:45 Young Talent and Future Prospects
01:06:55 Roster Decisions and Player Development
01:10:03 Expectations for Key Players
01:18:02 Predictions for the Upcoming Season

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1 hr 22 min

About Empty The Benches

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Grab a seat and crack a cold one with Nick and Mac on Empty the Benches, the hockey podcast that doesn't hold back. Whether you're a diehard fan who's been watching since the '90s or just getting into…