The Chirp with Daren Millard

Daren is joined by Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke of NHL.com and the NHL @TheRink podcast (3:36) to put a bow on the 2023-24 NHL Season and look ahead to what will happen during free agency. The guys try to describe the importance of what this season has been to the NHL and why the League is seemingly in a great place. Plus, they discuss the possibilities surrounding Steven Stamkos, Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel & Jonathan Marchessault. They chat about the potential for the Utah Hockey Club to make a big splash in free-agency and try to predict who the favorite will be to win the Stanley Cup next season. Daren starts the episode looking back at an amazing Stanley Cup Final and the reasons for its incredible success across North America. 

Daren is joined by Rick Tocchet (8:43) to talk about winning the Jack Adams Award, the Stanley Cup Final matchp, life in the off-season and adjustments he expects the Vancouver Canucks will make to continue their success on the ice. He talks about the process he goes thru each offseason to re-group and prepare for the upcoming season and takes us behind the curtain on the importance of assistant coaches. Rick looks back a little bit on the Canucks season and playoff run and looks ahead at how things will be harder for his team as they won't take anyone by surprise next season. Daren starts the episode looking at the Stanley Cup Final and the Panthers 3-0 series lead and wraps up by discussing the Capitals acquisition of CapFriendly. 

Daren is joined by ESPN lead analyst Ray Ferraro (1:57) to dive deep into the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. What's the biggest storyline of the Cup Final that stands out to Ray? He answers that question and looks at every angle of the coaching matchup and explains why he's been so impressed with Kris Knoblauch. Plus, he talks about some of his interactions with Paul Maurice throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs and why he thinks Maurice is having the time of his life coaching the Florida Panthers. How do the Panthers slow down McDavid? Ray looks at how the Panthers will go about defending the best player in the world and why it's so hard to slow him down consistently. He thinks the two best teams are in the Final and is looking forward to what he says will be a GREAT series. 

Daren is joined by TNT lead analyst Eddie Olczyk (1:00). Edzo dives deep into both Conference Finals. He explains why Roope Hintz is so important to Dallas and what changes the Oilers might have to consider the rest of the way. What team in the Finals is feeling the most pressure to win now? Edzo answers that question and also takes a trip down memory lane as he recalls the run that the Rangers went on in 1994 to win the Stanley Cup. He wonders if the Rangers can continue to win with their style of play, but points to Igor Shesterkin's brilliance as to why the Rangers have been so dangers during this run. Plus, the guys go back and forth on some of the coaching practices we've seen in the NHL this cycle and Edzo discusses some of the changes he'd like to see with the way coaches are hired in the League. 

Daren is joined by his old pal and former NHL coach and GM Doug MacLean (1:20). Doug dissects the tough goalie decision that Kris Knoblauch faced and explains why he wouldn't be afraid to play McDavid and Draisaitl as much as possible. He looks at some of the different motivational styles that coaches have employed, including Paul Maurice's rants and Jim Montgomery's theatrics behind the bench. He weighs in on what's going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs and discusses the pressure that managers and coaches feel once the Stanley Cup Playoffs arrive.  Of course, he shares a few great stories as he reveals his biggest coaching rival and tips his cap to Nick Kypreos for a premonition he had about Sam Bennett years ago. 

Daren is joined by John Shannon (1:36) to discuss all things Toronto Maple Leafs, including his reaction to Friday's press conference, the coaching change, the future coach, the decisions surrounding the roster and the stability of the franchise. He goes in-depth about what he believes Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving should do as far as hiring a new coach and what moves might make sense to get the team to perform in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also chats about the Canes inability to score goals, Igor Shesterkin's superb play, the intrigue surrounding the Oilers/Canucks series and the future of Rod Brind'Amour. Daren wraps up the show with a playoff edition of "Mallard's Best!" 

Daren is joined by Martin Necas (5:35) to talk about how the Carolina Hurricanes matchup with the NY Rangers, the intensity of Rod Brind'Amour during the playoffs, the personality of the group, including how Seth Jarvis and Brent Burns contribute to keeping the mood in the room lite. He talks about how the team has unfinished business after losing in the Eastern Conference final and explains how the Club understands that this roster will face a lot of turnover in the offseason. Plus, he shares thoughts on Jake Guentzel, Freddie Andersen and Andrei Svechnikov. Daren starts the episode asking an important question surrounding Alexander Ovechkin and reflecting on the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Daren is joined by New Jersey Devils goalie Jake Allen, fresh off his stint moonlighting as an analyst on Sportsnet (10:20). Allen touches on all the relevant goalie storylines of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he shares his thoughts on Casey DeSmith, the Bruins' rotation, Alexander Georgiev's confidence, the Maple Leafs situation and Jake Oettinger. Daren opens up the episode remembering the great Bob Cole. 

Daren is joined by TSN's Darren Dreger to discuss the most intriguing off-season storylines, including the coaching carousel, and what teams like the Senators, Sabres, Blues and Devils will do in the offseason. Plus, he talks about Sidney Crosby's future in Pittsburgh and weighs in on the pressure that's being felt in Toronto and Edmonton as the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway. He shares his approach to voting for the Hart Trophy and looks at what Canadian team has the best shot to win the Stanley Cup. Millard wraps up the show by making a few postseason predictions and talking about why this year could be the year that a lot of lower seeds make noise. 

Daren is joined by Dr. Alicia Naser -- @doctoralicianaser on Instagram. Alicia  works with pro hockey players to optimize performance and handle pressure. She dives deep into her area of expertise as Daren peppers her with many questions about her profession and how she exactly goes about helping hockey players. She looks at some of the challenges that hockey players come to her with, the techniques she employs to help and talks about the busy schedule that she's faced with. Plus, she provides a glimpse into the evolution that the hockey world has seen in this area and explains why she doesn't just deal exclusively with players. It's a fascinating and enlightening discussion for hockey fans and beyond. 

You can reach Alicia Naser at [email protected] 

Follow her on Instagram @doctoralicianaser and on LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/DKMR8