Neutral Zone Hotel

This week, SJ, Benjamin, and Trevor discuss the big PWHL trade, the results of the Rivalry Series, The Code and its place in the game today, and the change of the NHL's jersey supplier from Adidas to Fanatics. Also, why it doesn't matter that Marie-Philip Poulin doesn't have a no-trade clause.

0:00 SJ welcomes Benjamin and Trevor to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

3:29 The first trade in PWHL history happened in the last week. PWHL Boston traded Sophie Jacques to PWHL Minnesota for Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook. The crew breaks down the trade.

11:33 Canada wins the Rivalry Series in a reverse sweep, and SJ is sad. Me? I'm in denial.

17:40 Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly tried to decapitate Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig for the crime of taking a slapshot into an empty net and got his dumb ass suspended five games. Many Leafs fans and media jumped to Rielly's defense, citing The Code. But what exactly is The Code? Benjamin breaks down the history of The Code. Then the crew discusses its place in the game today and its application to the Rielly incident.

38:22 Fanatics is taking over the NHL's jersey manufacturing next season. Will the NHL's jersey quality get noticeably worse? What teams will change their look for next season? The crew has answers. Or guesses, anyway.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
If you want to talk hockey with us, join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

NOTE: There was some misplaced audio around 24:30 in the original upload. This has been fixed.

It's a big news week. First up, we will note a trigger warning in the final NHL news segment starting at 28:24. There is an update about the SA case against five members of the Canadian World Junior team. There is no discussion of the incident in question, but please skip to the next section if you'd rather not listen. In other news, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm were traded. Not for each other. Jesse Puljujärvi signed in Pittsburgh. And the Kings fired head coach Todd McLellan. In this week's PWHL Update, the crew discusses the upcoming neutral site games and a couple of results from last week. And finally, Benjamin has a new game.

0:00 Alex welcomes SJ, Trevor, and Benjamin for their shift to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

2:10 The crew discusses the Candaiens trading Sean Monahan to the Jets for a first round pick.

6:47 The crew discusses the Flames trading Elias Lindholm to Vancouver.

13:33 Jesse Puljujärvi signs in Pittsburgh and Alex has thoughts.

21:53 The crew talks about changes to the Kings coaching staff: Head coach Todd McLellan was fired, assistant coach Jim Hiller was promoted to interim head coach, and they hired fired Senators coach D.J. Smith as an assistant.

28:24 The crew discusses updates on the case against five members of the 2018 Canada World Junior Team. TW: This case deals with sexual assault. There is no discussion of the details of the incident. But if you need to avoid listening, please jump to the next segment.

38:14 It's time for this week's PWHL update. The league announced neutral site games in Detroit and Pittsburgh. Then there's talk of the big collapse in Ottawa that did not involve the Senators. And finally, Toronto wins a game against Minnesota.

46:40 The NHL All-Star Game held the first Pride Cup, featuring members of the Toronto Gay Hockey Association. It was also a celebration of the 8th anniversary of Pride Tape. Teams were coached by PWHPA Director Brian Burke and NHL Director of Social Impact, Growth and Fan Development Andrew Ference coached the teams. Gary Bettman was on hand to give out the Cup. Benjamin talks a little about how the NHL got something right for a change.

49:31 Benjamin has a game, which may or may not be called Open To Suggestions.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
If you want to talk hockey with us, join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

There are a lot of ups and downs this week. First up, a long discussion about the five players from the 2018 Canadian World Juniors team who are being charged with sexual assault. Then, a fantastic discussion with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski about the changes in sports media over the course of his career. Finally, the crew remembers one guy which turns into both remembering a lot of guys and looking forward to an exciting new wave of womens' hockey.

0:00 Our first segment tonight involves a discussion of sexual assault. Although it does not go in-depth into the incident in question. there is some discussion of the details and they are mentioned in several places in the segment. If you need to skip that segment, please head straight to the second segment at 32:42.

0:36 Benjamin welcomes Trevor and John to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

1:59 The crew gets straight into discussing the five players from the 2018 Canada World Juniors team charged with sexually assaulting a woman after a gala the summer after the tournament. The discussion includes the latest updates in the case, the poor manner in which the NHL has handled some previous cases, and the opportunity the league, Hockey Canada, and the sport have to handle these incidents better and hold players accountable.

32:42 Next up, a much lighter segment. Benjamin and John had a conversation with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski about the changing landscape of sports media from newspapers to blogs to podcasts to AI.

58:35 Finally, in our third segment, the crew talks about the lasting impact of Börje Salming on hockey. Without Salming, arguably we wouldn't have had the great influx of Europeans in the NHL in the 1980s and '90s. The crew talks about how much better the NHL is with European players.

You can find Greg Wyshynski's writing at https://www.espn.com/nhl/ and https://www.patreon.com/pucksoup. You can watch him on ESPN's The Drop on YouTube and hear him on non-hockey and hockey-adjacent bonus podcasts at https://www.patreon.com/pucksoup and Wednesdays on The Jeff Marek Show (https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/jeff-marek-show/).

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

This week, through floods and internet outages, Trevor, SJ, and John talk about the week in hockey and Trevor's experience at the Canucks' Pride Night game.

0:00 Trevor welcomes SJ and John to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

3:00 In this week's PWHL update, the crew discusses how Minnesota is an unstoppaple juggernaut, Marie-Philip Poulin is the greatest, the first PWHL shootout, and The Abby Roque Experience.

19:23 Patrick Roy is back in the NHL, as head coach of the New York Islanders.

25:54 Corey Perry is back. Two months ago, the Blackhawks terminated his contract for an alcohol-fueled "workplace incident." This week, the Oilers signed him to a one-year deal.

30:01 A quick breaking news bulletin about the 2018 Canada Men's Junior team. tw:SA

30:37 Trevor went to the Vancouver Canucks' Pride Night game, against the Arizona Coyotes.

41:18 Five teams announced they are leaving the Alberta Junior Hockey League to join the British Columbia Hockey League. which itself left Hockey Canada this season and went independent. The crew talks about what that means for the players.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

It's goaltender week at Neutral Zone Hotel. There's a big discussion about goalies that could be on the move, or who should have been on the move, or who teams wish had been on the move before the season. Also, there's some PWHL talk and a Vibes Cup update.

0:00 This week, Benjamin welcomes Trevor and Alex to the Neutral Zone Hotel

2:38 In this week's PWHL update, the crew discusses the players who will take part in the NHL's All-Star Weekend, NHL cross-promotion of the PWHL, social media a misstep involving Logan Mailloux, and how much fun the beginning of the season has been.

11:51 Alex leads a discussion on the NHL's Goalie Carousel.

51:03 It's time for a Vibes Cup update.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

It's been a busy week in hockey and the crew is ready to talk about it. The first week of the PWHL season is complete, the USA beat Sweden to win the gold medal at the World Junior Championships, the Philadelphia Flyers don't want Cutter Gauthier, the first round of NHL All-Star selections are in, one of the Connors is injured, and the Leafs gave William Nylander all the money. But even more importantly, something strange is up with Ottawa Senators head coaches.

0:00 Alex welcomes Trevor, SJ, and Jess to the Neutral Zone Hotel

1:35 First, the crew recaps the first week of the PWHL season.

9:32 Next up, the crew recaps the thrilling, amazing USA win in the World Junior Championships, the tournament that no one in the USA cares about unless we win.

15:10 The Flyers traded Cutter Gauthier to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick. After a discussion of the situation, SJ presents 5 reasons why Gauthier didn't want to sign in Philadelphia.

29:39 The NHL All Star selections are here. The crew has takes on odd selections from the league, and suggestions for who is deserving of the fan vote.

38:38 Connor is injured. No, not that Connor. No not that Connor, either. No, the other one. Right. Connor Bedard is injured and will certainly miss the All-Star Game. The crew talks about his chances to come back and win the Calder.

45:07 The Maple Leafs gave William Nylander all the money and a full no-movement clause. This will certainly work out.

55:06 Trevor has a quiz about Ottawa Senators head coaches.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

This week, the crew discusses two big games that happened on New Year's Day: The first PWHL game and the NHL Winter Classic. Also, the Ottawa Senators have a new GM, Benjamin drops in live from the PWHL game in Ottawa, and the crew proposes a New Year's resolution every NHL team.

0:00 John welcomes Alex, SJ, and Trevor to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

2:21 Neutral Zone Hotel presents New Year's resolutions for the Atlantic Division.

6:05 The crew discusses the naming of Ottawa Senators President of Hockey Operations and Interim GM Steve Staios as the non-Interim GM.

11:55 The crew discusses the first PWHL game, held on New Year's Day, between New York and Toronto.

20:56 New Year's resolutions for the Central Division.

26:18 SJ was at the Winter Classic in Seattle. They relate their experience and the crew discusses the game, possible teams and locations for future Winter Classics, and the Oakland A's.

52:47 New Year's resolutions for the Metro.

58:02 Benjamin calls in to give a live report from the first PWHL game in Ottawa.

1:10:19 New Year's resolutions for the Pacific Division.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

It's a holiday week, and so it's a skeleton crew at the Neutral Zone Hotel this week. John and Benjamin are here to introduce a collection of previously recorded, but unheard segments. Yes, it's a clip show. We have a habit of running long, and so here are a couple of segments cut from recent episodes, and also a couple of games that we recorded for our third and final test episode, recorded back in September.

0:00 John welcomes Benjamin to the Neutral Zone Hotel.

6:14 The crew plays a game of Connections that goes a little awry.

17:43 Benjamin gives a dramatic reading from one of Don Cherry's books.

28:46 A discussion about the 2024 NHL draft being held at The Sphere in Las Vegas finds its way to another discussion about Don Cherry in this full-length unedited segment from Episode 13.

39:32 The crew plays another game from Episode 0.3, a quiz about NHL player nicknames presented by Trevor.

50:32 It's the old staple of clip shows, the blooper reel.

1:05:06 In a segment cut from Episode 13 so that we could fit the entire interview with Cole Redhorse Taylor, SJ presents a quiz about where in the world the Carolina Hurricanes prospects are playing this year.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

On this week's show, the crew previews a lot of things that are going to take place in the next few weeks: The inaugural PWHL season, the Winter Classic, and the World Junior Championships. But first, the crew discusses DJ Smith, the latest NHL head coach to be fired this season. The episode also includes the usual off-topic digressions, including some fun facts about Pierre McGuire and Benjamin's Don Cherry impression.

0:00 Benjamin welcomes Jess, SJ, and John to their shift on staff at the Neutral Zone Hotel. They immediately go off on a tangent about Benjamin's beer advent calendar.

4:08 The Ottawa Senators have fired head coach DJ Smith and assistant coach Davis Payne and replaced them with two people who were waiting in the wings for this moment: former Senators head coach Jacques Martin and former Senators great Daniel Alfredsson. The crew discuss why this happened and talk a little about Jacques Martin's last three head coaching jobs in Ottawa, Florida, and Montreal.

16:02 Next up, it's a PWHL season preview. It's almost time for the start of the PWHL season and the crew has the latest updates, including news about the Canadian broadcasts, the state of ticket sales, and Cassie Campbell's move from broadcasting to the PWHL front office.

31:10 The crew embarks on a quick digression about how awful Pierre McGuire is and Benjamin gives a beer update.

33:54 It's World Junior Championships preview time! The crew discuss the Punch Up in Piestany, the United States and Canada rosters, some all-time name havers, and which of the teams the we follow that have prospects in the tournament.

48:21 It's time to bash Pierre McGuire some more as the crew discusses just how creepy he is.

49:13 Finally, the crew previews the upcoming NHL Winter Classic Presented by some gambling site, probably. The Winter Classic will be in Seattle this year and SJ will be there.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord

On this week's show, the crew struggles to stay on topic. They discuss the latest in AHL and NHL suspensions, ugly hits, the start of the PWHL season, the number of jerseys in John's closet, the Caps moving to Virginia, how the Lightning are almost as bad as the Senators but the Senators aren't as bad as you think, Vegas' overtime record, Hughes-a-Palooza, and how the Kings are on track to win the Presdent's Trophy. Also, Trevor manifests a win for the Seattle Kraken, Jess and John talk about the times they traveled to see a team get blown out at home, Jess drops a magnificent segue, and the crew opens a pack of hockey cards.

0:00 Jess welcomes John and Trevor to the Neutral Zone Hotel for their shift.

2:40 First up, it's PWHL update time! The teams have announced final rosters. The crew discusses the final rosters and the upcoming start of the season on January 1.

17:17 There were several violent hits and two suspensions in the NHL over the last week. The crew, of course, has thoughts on the hits, the suspensions, and getting ugly hits out of the game. They also have thoughts on Bob Nardella's ten-game suspension as coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves for using a homophobic slur against an official.

31:30 Next up, the crew talks about some interesting things they found in the NHL standings this week.

47:29 Finally, it's time for another round of Crack-a-Pack. Trevor opens a fresh pack of hockey cards and the crew remember some guys.

Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team
You can find more information at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined:
Instagram: @neutralzonehotel
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social


Neutral Zone Hotel is a production of the Neutral Zone Hotel Team.
More information is available at https://neutralzonehotel.com
Logo design by Emily Mowbray.
We're available on YouTube and all the major podcast platforms.
You can follow us on social media if you're so inclined: 
Bluesky: @neutralzonehotel.bsky.social
You can join our Discord server at https://neutralzonehotel.com/discord