Zone Time

00:00 - No evidence to say this Maple Leafs team is different

The Maple Leafs will be judged on what they do in the playoffs, where the team's superstar core have repeatedly struggled to make an impact but a shaky start to the regular season, including some worrying underlying metrics, suggest Toronto is no more prepared than before for the tests that await.

Also on this week's Shot Volume:

11:57 - How to truly evaluate NHL goaltending?

21:04 - John Tortorella's culture paying dividends

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00:00 - Things Sam Chang missed while on vacation

14:12 - Maple Leafs need Mitch Marner to be great not ok

25:01 - NHL Player Safety consistency was short lived

27:30 - Chicago's handling of Corey Perry's absence creates questions

31:03 - What do non-NHL fans think about the league?

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William Nylander and Elias Pettersson are both approaching free agency but do their standout starts to this season prove they perform under pressure and deserve every dollar of their next contract?

Also on this week's episode of Zone Time:

• NHL regional blackouts have have gone too far
• What happened to Patrik Laine's magic?
• Predicting Team Canada's roster for 2025

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• Can Craig Conroy manage Calgary through a fire sale?
• 3-on-3 overtime rule changes would be unpopular among fans
• Panarin has point to prove, making Rangers a problem

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Connor McDavid says he found out about Jay Woodcroft's dismissal like everyone else but it's hard to believe the Oilers captain had no input in the hiring of Kris Knoblauch, his coach in junior hockey, as new bench boss in Edmonton. Also on this week's show:

• Unexpected destination for Nikita Zadorov following trade request
• Connor Bedard is already elite, and he knows it
• Leafs should re-sign Nylander regardless of consequences
• Is he a Hockey Hall of Famer?

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Why trading for an NHL goaltender is harder than ever

Tandem goaltender setups have become increasingly popular across the NHL, with only a select group of teams playing a bonafide No. 1 starter. As a result, the Edmonton Oilers are faced with limited trade options after putting Jack Campbell on waivers.

Also on this week's Shot Volume:

Oilers have narrow margin for error after nightmare start

Edmonton's struggles to find reliable goaltending are well documented but the Oilers still have a top-10 power play and will rely on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to raise their production if the team is to recover and make the NHL playoffs.

Vancouver Canucks: Team of destiny

After missing the playoffs by 12 points last season, the Vancouver Canucks are off to the best start in franchise history (9-2-1) but how long can Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and particularly goaltender Thatcher Demko keep the juggernaut rolling?

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Brady Tkachuk and Ottawa's young core are currently playing below the sum of their talent and while head coach D.J. Smith has been instrumental in their development, the Senators might need to make a change on the bench if the team is to make the playoffs this season.

01:05 - Dysfunction in Ottawa

07:34 - Leafs desperately need secondary scoring

16:19 - Can things get any worse for Oilers, Flames?

21:31 - Sharks are playing historically bad

26:41 - Canucks are best team in Canada

29:23 - Johnny Gaudreau not delivering on promise

31:59 - Mangipane suspension is very lenient

33:19 - Second former player sues Blackhawks

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Power-play opportunities per team are up from an average of 2.99 per game between 2014 and 2023 to 3.57 so far this season. More penalties mean more goals but not everyone is convinced it's good for the game. Also this week's episode of Shot Volume:

• Penguins did themselves a hole but is the team playing better than its record suggests?
• Goaltending not the problem for Tampa

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The Calgary Flames (2-6) are likely to rally from a terrible start to the NHL season but management are already facing questions about the long-term future of the current roster, and whether the team should be sellers come trade deadline.

Also on this week's episode:

• Behind the scenes at NHL Heritage Classic
• Should NHL coaches be able to review missed penalty calls?
• NHL rallies around safety after Adam Johnson tragedy

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