It’s time for The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and guest co-host Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

1:07: The Ottawa Senators hold a decent lead on the Eastern wild-card standings. What has allowed this group to nearly seal a spot in the post-season? 

4:08: Are there any similarities between this year's Senators and the 2017 team that made it to the Eastern Conference final?  

7:24: We could see the Battle of Ontario in the first round if the Toronto Maple Leafs earn the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Who wins it?

10:32: Are the Montreal Canadiens running out of steam? Which team looks likeliest to get the second wild-card spot?

13:38: Leon Draisaitl is up to 51 goals this season. There are now just two active players with four or more 50-plus-goal seasons. Could Draisaitl be a better goal-scorer than Auston Matthews?

16:43: Where do we think Brad Marchand could end up next season?

19:44: Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog was seen this week working on special teams with one of the power-play units. Will he return for the playoffs? If so, what kind of impact would his comeback have on the Avalanche? 

23:50: Which team has the most pressure to win in the first round of the playoffs?

27:19: The Seattle Kraken and the Nashville Predators are the newest teams to be "officially eliminated" from the playoffs. What moves would you like each team to make this off-season? 

30:08: Only four players from the Senators’ last playoff appearance are still active in the NHL. Can you name them?

31:19: College hockey studs Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) and Ryan Leonard (WSH) are both expected to make their NHL debut Tuesday night. Who do we think will make a bigger impact as an NHL player?

32:59: The New York Rangers' bus reportedly hit San Jose rookie Macklin Celebrini's car. What is a bigger bummer: losing in a blowout to the Rangers or having your car hit?

35:01: The NCAA Hockey Frozen Four is officially set. Denver is back to defend its title and will face Western Michigan. Penn State continues its Cinderella run and will take on Boston University. Who are your picks to win it?

37:10: Gavin McKenna has nine points in just two playoff games. If he was draft-eligible this year, would he go first overall?

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Kickstart the weekend with The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:36: The Philadelphia Flyers fired coach John Tortorella. What do we think of Tortorella’s comments on Tuesday and the subsequent decision by the Flyers to move on?

6:20: Who do we think should be the next coach in Philadelphia, and will Tortorella end up coaching elsewhere by next season?

8:14: The St. Louis Blues are on an eight-game winning streak. What has stood out about St. Louis during this run, and should teams be genuinely concerned about meeting them in the first round?

11:10: Brad Marchand is slated to make his debut with the Florida Panthers on Friday against Utah Hockey Club. Do we like Marchand on the second line with Sam Bennett?  

13:14: When Matthew Tkachuk returns to the Panthers’ lineup, who becomes a healthy scratch?

14:58: Alex Ovechkin is now just six goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. Do general sports fans realize this is going on? Is the NHL doing enough to promote this Great Chase?

19:11: Day 1 of the NCAA men’s hockey national championship is in the books. These eliminations mean we have many players who could turn pro now that their seasons are done, but one of the biggest names to watch is MSU goalie Trey Augustine. Do we think Augustine will sign to go pro or return for his junior season at MSU?

20:51: What other prospects are you keeping an eye on now that their seasons are over?

23:17: We return to our weekly look at Ryan and Michael’s top eight Stanley Cup contenders. Starting with Ryan's list, which squad moved the most on his list and why?

24:55: Michael shares which team moved the most on his top eight Cup front-runners list and why.

29:10: What series in the Western Conference will be the toughest?

30:35: True or false: do we think Matvei Michkov is secretly happy Tortorella is fired?

32:52: Without looking, who has a better save percentage for the Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger or Casey DeSmith?

34:22: Which fan base should be more concerned about their team next season: Boston or Detroit?

36:22: Is Kadri the Calgary Flames' best-ever free-agent signing? 

37:55: Sidney Crosby is the first player in NHL history to record 20 point-per-game seasons. Will anyone currently playing in the NHL ever beat this?

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Welcome to a new week of The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:59: The battle for first in the Atlantic Division is tight. Which team needs first place the most? 

3:19: Would Matthew Tkachuk actually want to play against his brother, Brady Tkachuk, if the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators meet in the first round?

4:19: Which team do you think will ultimately earn the top spot in the Atlantic division?

6:43: The Blue Jackets announced Monday they activated Sean Monahan and Erik Gubranson off injured reserve. How will their returns affec the Blue Jackets’ playoff push?

9:16: The New York Islanders’ potential game-winning goal was disallowed because of goaltender interference. Was there interference or not?

11:29: Since the 4 Nations Face-Off, the top scorers are Roope Hintz, Sidney Crosby, Nick Suzuki, Robert Thomas and Connor McDavid. Who has been the MVP for their team most during this run?

14:01: McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are unlikely to play in any of the Edmonton Oilers’ three games this week. Can the Oilers prove they are more than a two-man team?

16:43: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is travelling with the team on their four-game road trip. If Guhle comes in, who should the Canadiens take out?

19:20: The Pittsburgh Penguins' latest hot streak has kept them out of a guaranteed top-five draft pick. Has this "hot streak" actually done more harm than good for the Penguins?

21:56: Which team needs to change coaches?

25:25: Speculation has circulated for a while connecting Gavin McKenna - the consensus No. 1 pick for the 2026 NHL draft - to the University of Michigan. The rumor on the street is that Michigan could be offering something upwards of $100,000 annually for him to join them. How would McKenna making this move reshape the future of junior and college hockey?

30:21: The NCAA men’s hockey tournament begins on Thursday. The top four teams are No. 1 Boston College, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Maine and No. 4 Western Michigan. Is the national champion in this top four? Who is your pick? 

32:51: The Washington Capitals re-signed D-man Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year extension worth $9 million per season. Good or bad deal?

34:31: Gavin McKenna closed out his draft-minus-1 season with 129 points in 56 games. Sidney Crosby is the only CHL player to score more in a D-minus-1 season. Could McKenna be the best prospect since Sidney Crosby? 

36:42: ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that billionaire Dan Friedkin has gotten into the mix as an ownership option focused on bringing the NHL to Houston. Yay or nay to an NHL team in Houston? 

38:53: The referees robbed us all of a goalie fight between Darcy Kuemper and Jeremy Swayman on Sunday. Yes or no: should refs try to stop goalie fights to prevent injuries?

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Welcome to The Hockey News Big Show, where we explore some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:54: Michael revisits his top eight Stanley Cup contenders list from last week and explains his new Nos. 5 to 8 teams this week.

2:59: Ryan also goes over the changes in his list from last week.

6:14: Ryan has the Washington Capitals in his top four, while Michael has them in his bottom four. What's the argument for both of your reasoning? 

10:51: Who should be the starting goalie for Game 1 of the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

14:58: How does the addition of a healthy Evander Kane and Trent Frederic change the complexion of this Oilers team in the playoffs?

18:03: How does Miro Heiskanen potentially missing the first round affect your opinion on the Dallas Stars beating the Colorado Avalanche?

21:20: The New York Islanders are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and are very much in the mix again for the second wild-card spot. Do we buy them as a real threat to earn that spot?

23:54: Who is your front-runner for the Calder Trophy race?

26:35: The Top 10 Hobey Baker nominees were recently released. Who are your picks for the top three finalists for the NCAA’s men’s hockey player of the year?

31:09: March Madness is officially underway. Which NHL team would be the best "Cinderella story" to shock the world and make a run, even if they don’t win the Cup?

33:05: Gary Bettman said the playoff format is not changing. Are you GLAD because you like the current format or SAD because you want the 1 vs. 8 format?

35:19: The New York Rangers released their Centennial logo for next season, and people online aren't super impressed. Yay or nay to the logo? 

37:17: Josh Morrissey becomes the top scorer among defensemen in Jets 2.0 history, passing Dustin Byfuglien. Has he been a better blueliner for Winnipeg than Byfuglien?

39:23: Alex Ovechkin is now seven goals away from breaking Gretzky's 894 all-time goals record with 13 games left. Will it take him all 13 games, or will he do it with games to spare?

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The Hockey News Big Show is back to discuss some of the biggest NHL and hockey topics.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:59: What's the driving force behind the Ottawa Senators’ success right now?

4:33: Do the Senators have a chance to catch the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning and possibly steal third spot in the Atlantic?

6:13: Is Auston Matthews truly healthy? What if anything is really going on with the Leafs captain, and how concerned should fans be?

9:58: The Carolina Hurricanes are 4-0 since the trade deadline. Why are the Hurricanes rolling, and more importantly, do we believe it can last? 

14:12: Sam Bennett is a pending UFA. Is it possible the Leafs could swing keeping Marner and adding Bennett in the off-season?

17:46: NHL GM meetings began on Monday. Which topic is up for discussion or possible rule change are you most interested in?

21:47: The St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club are making things very interesting for the final wild-card spot in the west. Which team are you making a case for to snag that last spot? Which team would be the toughest first-round matchup for the Winnipeg Jets?

24:54: Which team in contention for the final spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card race will put up the best or most interesting fight in the first round? 

28:33: William Nylander has 38 goals this season with 15 games left. Will he hit 50 goals this season?

30:18: The San Jose Sharks are the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. The Chicago Blackhawks will be next. Which team has more to be optimistic about next season?

32:38: What’s the bigger surprise? Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson scoring four goals in six games or Carolina’s Mark Jankowski getting four goals in his first four games as a Hurricane?

34:15: The PWHL broke the all-time American pro women's hockey attendance record on Sunday night, drawing a crowd of 14,288. It's the second-straight year Detroit has broken the U.S. record. Should Detroit be considered the favorite for an American expansion city?

37:20: A new Happy Gilmore 2 Trailer is out. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you to see this movie?

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The Hockey News Big Show now looks toward the battle for the playoffs in the NHL and beyond with a new segment.

Every Friday, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos share their top Stanley Cup contenders in order, defending why they made those choices. The list can change depending on weekly performances, and as we get closer to the playoffs, the clear front-runners will emerge.

Here’s everything Katie Gaus, Ryan and Michael discussed in this episode:

1:47: Ryan’s Cup contenders are in order: Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Vegas, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Washington and Toronto. Why?

4:15: Michael’s Cup contenders are Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Toronto, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, Edmonton and Winnipeg. He explains why.

6:47: Does last season's first-round exit by the Winnipeg Jets prevent Ryan and Michael from putting them higher up on the list?

8:27: How does Miro Heiskanen's injury affect the Dallas Stars’ placement? 

10:51: Which division's teams will be the most beat up by the conference finals?

14:42: Which current playoff team is in the most danger of falling down the standings down the stretch?

17:36: What team do you not want to face in the playoffs?

19:39: The Vegas Golden Knights signed Adin Hill to a six-year extension worth $6.25 million. Do we like it?

 22:56: Defenseman Dougie Hamilton's regular season is over. Should the New Jersey Devils consider trying to move Hamilton in the off-season based on his injury history? Is it even possible with his cap hit?

26:46: Should Mikko Rantanen get the same "welcome back video tribute" moment other players who won the Cup got when they returned - or are things just too awkward for that now?

31:06: Who will have a bigger playoff impact on their new team: Charlie Coyle or Brad Marchand?

32:41: The NHL is reportedly considering an 84-game schedule and a possible September start. Do we like or dislike this scenario?

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to review an action-packed NHL trade deadline.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:44: Do post-deadline reports affect Mitch Marner’s chances of remaining in Toronto after this season? If he were to go somewhere else during free agency, which team is a fit?

5:19: Did the Carolina Hurricanes mismanage the Mikko Rantanen situation from the start? Or was this more on Rantanen and his agent?

10:42: Was refusing to compromise on a contract extension for Brad Marchand a mistake by the Boston Bruins? Is there concern about the decisions and direction for this team?

15:39: Is 20 games a fair suspension for Aaron Ekblad violating the terms of the NHL’s performance enhancement substance policy? Do we think this could affect his negotiations as a UFA this summer? 

20:39: Which team was too quiet at the deadline?

21:50: Which team is way better than they were before the deadline?

23:35: Which team got worse or maybe all the teams around them just got better?

25:49: Which player is/will be the best fit with his new team?

27:44: Which player traded at the deadline is not what the acquiring team really needed?

31:39: Carolina's pro shop is offering a free nameplate switch for any Hurricanes fan who bought a Rantanen jersey. Have you ever had hockey jersey remorse?

33:02: What's more exciting: the trade deadline or the opening of free agency?

34:54: Should the salary of a player suspended for violating an NHL substance policy count against the cap?

36:57: Trevor Zegras pranked THN Anaheim reporter Patrick Present over the weekend. Has a player ever messed with you in an interview?

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It’s time for the 2025 NHL trade deadline preview on The Hockey News Big Show.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:50: The Florida Panthers traded goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Seth Jones. Do we like this move by Florida? 

3:14: What does the acquisition of Jones mean for the future of defenseman Aaron Ekblad in Florida?

5:10: The Panthers also placed Matthew Tkachuk on LTIR to get an extra $8.7 million in cap space. What will Bill Zito do next?

8:40: The Colorado Avalanche made a big trade with the New York Rangers that brought in Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. Did the Avs pay too much of a premium in this trade?

12:16: What current Avalanche player is "most at-risk" of being traded as Colorado looks to make more effective moves?

13:40: Name a trade that you want to see happen at this year's deadline.

16:31: What is one team you're confused by heading into the trade deadline? What’s their plan?

20:00: Who’s undecided about being a seller or not this deadline that needs a reality check?

22:53: Best trade from last year's trade deadline

25:35: Worst trade from last year's trade deadline

29:00: Which players who were traded at last year’s deadline became more valuable than you expected?

32:06: Would you rather be Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas or Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams at this year's trade deadline?

34:42: Should the Montreal Canadiens be buyers or sellers?

36:55: True or false: J.T. Miller has more points since being traded to the New York Rangers than Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson has shots.

39:23 OVER/UNDER: Ovechkin is now just 11 goals away from breaking the NHL all-time goals record... Will it take him over or under 10 more games to do it?

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The Hockey News Big Show is back with a new episode one week away from the NHL trade deadline.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

0:50: Would it be wise for the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign John Tavares before the deadline or should they wait?

4:11: Is Brayden Schenn the best center option for what the Maple Leafs? Can the Leafs pull off that move?

6:30: What prospect would the Maple Leafs least like to part with in a trade?

8:21: Ahead of the deadline, who are some players that would be a good fit for the Winnipeg Jets to add on?

11:35: The Edmonton Oilers have gone 0-4 since the 4 Nations break. Is this just a little slump, or are there cracks in this team? Can these issues be addressed at the deadline? 

15:00: What top team is one big trade deadline move away from being flat-out scary in the playoffs?

17:03: The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets face off in the NHL Stadium Series this weekend. Will they make the playoffs?

20:39: Which trade deadline "seller" needs to stock up on picks at the deadline?

23:18: Who is your pick to win the NHL draft lottery?

25:38: How valuable is a first-round pick this year?  

28:30: What draft has been the best in recent years?

30:32: The Edmonton Oilers claimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. Yay or nay?

31:08: Would you rather be running the Vancouver Canucks or the Calgary Flames right now?

31:48: Saturday’s Stadium Series game is tracking to have more than 90,000 fans in attendance. Do you think the official number will go over or under? 

33:18: Brayden and Luke Schenn became the eighth pair of brothers to each hit the 1,000 NHL games milestone. Name another pair who reached this achievement. 

34:57: The Tkachuk brothers went on the Kelce brothers' podcast this week. Should the Tkachuks have their own podcast?

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All focus turns toward the NHL trade deadline, playoff push and more in The Hockey News Big Show.

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed in this episode:

1:16: What did the Carolina Hurricanes learn from the Jake Guentzel situation last year that they're trying to handle better with Mikko Rantanen?

4:58: What teams could be interested in Rantanen if the Hurricanes trade him again? 

7:45: Matthew Tkachuk's injury could be a bit longer term, which means the Florida Panthers could put him on LTIR. What are the pros and cons of the Panthers’ options? Who could they acquire if there is LTIR room?

10:35: Matias Maccelli has been a healthy scratch for the Utah Hockey Club, raising speculation that he could be on the trade block. What teams could benefit from adding Maccelli?

12:54: Could it be time for the Boston Bruins to consider trading their captain, Brad Marchand?

17:41: TSN’s Craig Button said Elias Pettersson is “holding the Canucks back.” Do you agree? With his talent ceiling, is he worth taking a chance on despite his current struggles and contract?

21:41: Seth Jones has said he would like a chance to play for a contender. Do the Columbus Blue Jackets count as a contender?

23:21: Should Seth Jones no longer be the Chicago Blackhawks’ alternate captain after expressing interest in playing elsewhere?

24:54: Are the Colorado Avalanche a legitimate Cup contender this year? Can the top line continue to carry the Avalanche?

30:09: Should the Ottawa Senators start to get concerned again about their playoff chances?

33:28: Did NHL commissioner Gary Bettman make the right call to reduce Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman's suspension from 10 games to eight?

34:37: Trevor Zegras was suspended three games for his hit on Michael Rasmussen. Was that the right length?

35:45: Pick a favorite prospect featured in The Hockey News’ newest Future Watch edition.

37:22: Los Angeles is reportedly hosting the decentralized 2025 NHL draft. Where would you like to see the next one?

38:39: What's more surprising: Alex Ovechkin scoring his second hat trick of the season at 39 years old or Matthew Tkachuk being on The Tonight Show?

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