NHL Fans From Afar

Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning have all made it through the third round of the dance.

In the East - will it be the team who play their first conference final in 27 years, or the club which shows up for the fourth time in 6 years who progresses?

Over in the West - it’s tight….as we reflect on how Vancouver Canucks shocked fans all over North America, with a very respectable bow out in the second round.

Dan from Chester, a UK flyers fan joins Clare and Jolon to depict what was a mad second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against New York Islanders. Is Carter Hart the goalie Philadelphia Flyers have been waiting for? And what should we expect from the off season goalie market? The NFFA team debate whether we’ve seen the end of the $10million goalie contracts…

And a recorded message from Matt the Dallas Stars fan. How’s he holding up after 7 weeks of barely any sleep and a game one win against Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final?

Note: Contains some occasional disgruntled moaning about the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Presented by Clare Freeman and Jolon Kemp Walker. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Photo credit: Flyers' Carter Hart in the Toronto bubble by Mark Blinch @mblinch

This week we hear from Canucks fan who can't believe they are still in the playoffs and a Dallas fan who can't believe his team are outscoring the entire league! Another week without Clare means Jolon is yet again shouldering far too much responsibility but manages to keep the leaf talk to only two outbursts. We're starting the 2nd round of these crazy playoffs and of course all anybody wanted to talk about was that photo on twitter of Marc Andre Fleury. Andy Giddings gives us his insight into his Canucks and their success this summer and Matt Day continues to remain coo and calm about the prospect of his beloved Stars getting closer and closer to their second ever Stanley Cup.

Produced by ASFB Productions.

Usually Clare Freeman brings her wealth of podcasting experience and curates a careful list of NHL topics to chew over.... However she's away this week so Jolon was forced out of his annual Leaf playoff exit funk to bring you this week’s NHL Fans From Afar.

To ensure this wasn't 60 mins of pure "What will the Leafs do next season?" "Where is the right hand defenceman they need so much!?" and "Would the Avs trade us Cale Makar and Kadri back for a conditional 3rd round pick!?" Jolon was joined by James Reeve who writes about the Arizona Coyotes (He's also a Leafs fan but who isn't deep down!) and NFFA regular and Dallas Stars fan Matt Day.

We cover:

The insane 5 OT Columbus vs Tampa game.

Goalie Tandems

1st Round Reactions (easier than predictions)

Coyotes Deep Dive

And our weekly Stars check in.

Produced by ASFB Productions and Picture from NBC Sports.

Who’d of thought Montreal Canadiens would knock out Pittsburgh Penguins? That Chicago Blackhawks would take out Edmonton Oilers? And how was it a clean sweep for Carolina Hurricanes? Forcing New York Rangers to say bye bye to a chance in the playoffs but hello (probably) to Lafrenière/the NHL Draft first pick...

So with no Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid...what IS there to look forward to in the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2020?!

Barry Trotz of New York Islanders is set to face his old team Washington Capitals, plus will there be revenge/history repeating itself as Tampa Bay Lightning/Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes/Boston Bruins meet again for the second playoff season in a row?

Go easy on these two broken hearted long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fans...

Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker & Matt Day unpack what was and what could be in the upcoming first playoff round. Produced by ASFB Productions.

Was Winnipeg Jets’ coach Paul Maurice right to call out Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk for his “disgusting” hit on Mark Scheifele?  

Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day pick apart the opening games of the round robin/play-in series for NHL’s 2019/2020 Stanley Cup run.  NHL Fans From Afar is produced by ASFB Productions.

Photo credit: Colorado Avalanches’ team look on in amazement as Nadeem Kadri takes the game winning goal against St Louis Blues during the round robin series. This shot from Getty photographer Dave Sandford says it all!

It was the off-season that none of us wanted…and now - who will win the weirdest Stanley Cup playoff run yet?

Will it be a case of youth and enthusiasm vs experienced veterans? Who were the winners and losers of a season reset? Will the more offensive teams cruise through the play-in round like in October?

Clare Freeman, Jolon Kemp Walker and Matt Day talk NHL broadcast expectations (especially the European friendly game times!), reflect on the pantomime of last month’s draft lottery and discuss whether Seattle Kraken has already struck gold because of the CBA extension.

Warning: Contains some what-may-become silly predictions on East and West play-in series results and seeding orders. Because at this point in the year that is 2020 - who knows what could happen next?!

NHL Fans From Afar podcast is made by ASFB Productions. 

Photo credit: Washington Capitals’ snap of Alexander Ovechkin arriving at the Toronto NHL Bubble, July 2020.

Is it ever ok to spit during a sport’s game (Caps’ Garnet Hathaway)? Should refs use common sense and throw out the rule book when a man is face down in blood during play (Avs’ Matt Calvert sit)? And who hates LA Kings’ Drew Doughty now?! (Basically everyone)

New York Islanders’ fan Rob McGregor and Vancouver Canucks’ supporter Andy Giddings join NHL Fans From Afar host Clare Freeman to talk best/worst limited edition jerseys plus the latest rumblings on what next for Hockey Night In Canada’s first intermission.

Produced by ASFB Productions. Email us: [email protected]

Picture Credit: Dallas Stars 2020 Winter Classic Limited Edition Jerseys

Clare's heart has just about stopped racing after THAT Toronto Maple Leafs penalty shoot out against the Philadelphia Flyers... Tom Parker joins Clare and James Reeve to talk about his beloved Edmonton Oilers who are off to a fine and dandy start, but - despite some terrific goaltending - he's dubious about whether the team have the depth to keep it going...

Plus more NHL Trivia featuring penguins and brothers. We love weird quirkies and stats, send us some here [email protected] or on twitter @NHLFansFromAfar.

Produced by ASFB Productions. Picture Credit: Pittsburgh Penguins. (But I can't tell you what it's of because that will give away a secret revealed in the episode.)

Ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, we discuss whether the NHL is right to pursue revenue in China and how the current picture compares to the NBA.

We find out why PK Subban dressed up as the New Jersey Devils mascot for the team’s halloween party, why the number seven keeps appearing everywhere, and what does grandma’s ham have to do with morning skates? No it’s not a bad dad joke… Just a little story Pittsburgh Penguin’s coach Mike Sullivan had to share.

NHL Fans From Afar host Clare Freeman is joined by Dallas Stars fan Matt Day and English ice hockey media guru/long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan Craig Simpson.

Produced by ASFB Productions. Picture credit: Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin - NHL's China ambassador.