Off The Post

Mike Traikos and Paul Chapman get into all the happenings at the NHL draft, look ahead to free agency and offer up takeaways from the Stanley Cup Final.   They pick the teams projected be the biggest players in free agency and which Canadian teams have the best chance to emulate the St. Louis Blues next season.   Mike even answers which group should have more hope, Oilers fans or Senators fans.  

Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman to discuss the Leafs exit from the playoffs and what the team is missing. While Mike thinks the team needs to get bigger and nastier, salary cap issues leaves few options for a fix.   They also look at the Flames and Jets and ponder what they need to do to move forward in the playoffs. Fans of all three teams are still rueing the missed opportunity of moving on in a season where most of the major hurdles in front of them have been removed.

Postmedia's national hockey writer Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman  to talk about the wild start to the NHL Playoffs.    Why are the Leafs leading the Bruins after lagging behind them all season? Why is there so much hate in the playoffs from Kadri to Ovechkin to Kane? It's been nasty and violent and fans love it.

Mike Traikos breaks down the 2019 playoff matchups. Would it be considered an upset if the Leafs were to beat the Bruins? Which Canadian team has the best shot to go the distance?   They also talk about home ice advantage and the New York Islanders, who were considered to have the worst arena in the NHL a few short years ago, being back in their old barn with rabid fans and perhaps the best atmosphere in the NHL. The draft lottery is also a hot topic this week, why the Senators are smugly grinning and why the Canucks think they are cursed.    

Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman to talk about the state of the NHL headed into the playoffs.   Mike looks at the possibilities the Leafs could go on a big playoff run  and reports that the city of Toronto is more excited about the Raptors headed into the playoffs than the stuttering Leafs.   The podcast also looks at the Leafs opponent the Boston Bruins, examines the chances of Montreal making the playoffs, and if they can still consider it a successful season if they don't.   Paul and Mike ponder which team is poised to go deeper into the playoffs, the Flames or the Jets.   Lastly the boys ponder what has to happen in Edmonton now that star Connor McDavid has publicly stated how angry he is with the team's lack of progress.    

Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs chances for a Stanley Cup run this season.   Mike says, something's not right. Goaltending, defence and overall team chemistry are concerns for the Leafs, so much so he believes the Montreal Canadiens have a better shot at the Stanley Cup this season due to the dominance of goaltender Carey Price.  

Why the Leafs are the only Canadian team to move the needle.   Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman on the heels of a Toronto Maple Leafs western swing where fans showed how much support the boys in blue have across the country.   Mike argues that the results speak for themselves and that the tremendous interest in the Leafs from coast to coast always makes the team a draw.

Postmedia's national hockey writer Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman to examine why the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't more active at the deadline and where that leaves them after the trade deadline.   This week's podcast also discusses John Tavares' return to Long Island, and if his trail blazing move to join his boyhood team, the Leafs, will open the door to see more superstars in their prime like, say, Connor McDavid, leave their teams for greener pastures, if they don't feel they are competing for the Stanley Cup.   Also covered in this week's podcast: Which teams upgraded the most at the deadline, which teams have the inside track for the final playoff spots, and why we may never see another player like Jarome Iginla again as the Flames prepare to retire the all-time-great's jersey.    

Which Canadian teams have the most to lose? Which have the most to gain?   In advance of Monday's NHL trade deadline, Postmedia national hockey writer Mike Traikos takes us through the likelihood that the Senators, Canadiens, Leafs, Flames, Jets, Canucks, and Oilers are active in changing their fortunes before rosters are locked.    

This week Paul Chapman and Mike Traikos look at Connor McDavid coming up second-best once again in a meeting with Sidney Crosby.   In his fourth NHL season Crosby won the Stanley Cup, having made the final in his third year. In this, his fourth season, McDavid is falling further away from making the playoffs, his GM and coach have been fired and it's fair to ask if McDavid will have the stomach for a full-blown, start-from-scratch rebuild.   Will he want to leave the Oilers?    In the second period talk turns to the playoff races and how weak the teams in the west are fighting, or really jostling lightly, for the final playoff spots. Mike relays what Canucks General Manager Jim Benning told him this week about the team's thoughts headed into the trade deadline and into the stretch drive.   In the final period Mike tells us what he's hearing from general managers about the trade deadline. Who is most likely to make a deal? Which team is in the most precarious position headed into the deadline and will the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals be able to just flick a switch when the playoffs arrive?

Now that the Toronto Maple Leafs have loaded up their salary cap by giving nearly $60 million to Matthews, how small is their window to win a Stanley Cup considering the fact they now have two players who are making $11 million a season?   National hockey writer Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman to talk about all things around Matthews' contract and if the Leafs are “all in” to win the Stanley Cup this season.   The podcast also looks at the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens, two of the NHL's hottest teams. Which one has the better chance to win the Stanley Cup? Do the Flames have the best line in all of hockey? And is Carey Price back to his very best?   Lastly, Off the Post gets into the turtle derby for the last playoff spots in the west. Edmonton and Vancouver are both involved in a laughable race to the playoffs where some really bad teams are still in the hunt to get in the tournament for Lord Stanley's chalice.   Download Off the Post every week via Apple Podcasts to get the inside news on the NHL and give us a rating.

Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman in this week's Off The Post podcast to examine Toronto's leap into the trade market with defenceman Jake Muzzin. The Leafs set the market high, but are they finished? Mike tells us what he's been hearing from NHL General Managers, which players are most likely to swap sweaters. Paul and Mike examine the prospects of each Canadian team, whether or not they'll be buyers or sellers, what they're looking for, and what they're hoping to gain as we approach the NHL's trade deadline.

Michael Traikos joins Paul Chapman from San Jose at the site of the NHL All Star Game to talk about the disaster of a season the Edmonton Oilers have had and how they are going to need a “wolf” to come in and clean up the crime scene. Mike has an intriguing theory as to why we have seen such impatience with coaches and general managers from team owners this season. Other topics the podcast covers includes the surprise teams and players of the season, including looking at the half-season pro hockey writers award leaders, and gauging why the Calgary Flames have a better shot to win the Stanley Cup than the Winnipeg Jets or Toronto Maple Leafs. Lastly the podcast covers the All Star Game format, what could be done to make it more intriguing to people outside of the host market and if any business groundwork will be laid prior to what should be a busy trade deadline.

Postmedia's national hockey writer Michael Traikos joins Paul Chapman to talk about the issues around the NHL this week. Traikos explains that the big, heavy hitters around the NHL are the difference makers that everyone wants. Tom Wilson, Ryan Reaves, Dustin Byfuglien are the prototypes, and teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs want one, and may have to overpay to get one. Traikos argues NHL general managers love to copy blueprints, and the big guy who can be physical but can still play in the Top 6 is the one thing every team wants.

Montreal Canadiens beat writer Stu Cowan joins Paul Chapman for the Off the Post podcast where they get into the complaints of Ken Hitchcock about the clutching and grabbing that is holding back Connor McDavid and the game's skill players. Is the NHL really doing enough to promote offence and get the young stars blazing? They also talk about the next generation of the ‘hockey machine' kid, who has known nothing but elite hockey since they were a kid and are now taking over the NHL. Stu says the days of French Canadiens dominating the NHL are over as we now see hockey factories in places like California, Missouri and even Arizona. Arizona!

In this week's Off The Post, hockey writer Don Brennan from Ottawa joins Paul Chapman as they talk about Alex Ovechkin's amazing season, and how he stacks up versus the young guns also ventilating goalies around the league this season. Can Ovechkin get close to Wayne Gretzky's all-time record as he's on a 65-goal pace for this season? Next the lads put the Canadian teams under the microscope. There are currently three Canadian teams in the NHL's top five, and the Leafs lead the way. Would the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup be cheered across the country? In the last segment, Don and Paul get into trade rumours, the best Christmas hockey gifts they've ever received (we all want either a table hockey or an air hockey unit this year don't we?), and finish with talk of another Canadian Christmas gift, the World Junior tournament.

Postmedia's National hockey insider Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman fresh from the NHL Board of Governors meetings in Georgia to talk about the process of getting Seattle into the NHL. Traikos explains that while markets like Quebec City, Portland and Houston are now lining up for their chance, it's more likely that relocation rather than expansion offers the most hope. But from where? Mike suggests Arizona, Carolina, Florida, and potentially Ottawa might be the franchises at risk.

Edmonton's Jim Matheson joins Paul Chapman in the latest Off the to talk about the latest firing in the NHL, Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextal. Why have so many coaches and now a GM beingn fired this season? Jim also gets into why Ken Hitchcock won't necessarily be in conflict with the offensive nature of Connor McDavid. In the second period the talk turns to the new arena conflict in Ottawa. In the final period they discuss new offensive stars in the NHL. WInnipeg's Patrick Laine scored 5 goals in one game and 11 for a week, how close is he to joining players like McDavid or Auston Matthews as the new tier of elite players?

Kristen Anderson, beat reporter in Calgary, joins Paul Chapman to talk about the Battle of Alberta sparking to life, both on the ice and in the press box. They also discuss the aftermath of the Flames-Oilers game which saw Edmonton coach Todd McLellan lose his job, the fourth coach to do so this year, and if four coaches fired already this year is surprising.

Senators beat reporter Don Brennan joins Paul Chapman to talk about the controversies and freakish side shows that have plagued the Ottawa Senators. The Senators have had a wild last 12 months from accusations of cyber bullying, trading their biggest star and then having the embarrassing Uber video surface. Don also talks about being banned from the team charter and the team's attempt to punish the media for the appearance of the video.

Ed Willes joins Paul Chapman for this week. They dive into the discussion of the two coaches fired in the NHL this week and examine what the impact of an NHL coach really is. Do superstar coaches like Mike Babcock really have the impact they're supposed to in today's NHL. Topics also kicked around this week include the super rookies of hockey, and how impressive is it when a first-year player steps in and is not only able to negotiate the bright lights of the big league, but handle the physical attention they get on ice with ease. The Ottawa Senators Uber disaster is also a point of the podcast as well as the role of the enforcer, Milan Lucic's NHL hearing and the surprise success of Montreal's Max Domi.

Postmedia National Hockey Writer Mike Traikos joins Paul Chapman for this week's Off the Post. In the first period the hot start from Vancouver super rookie Elias Pettersson is discussed as Mike wonders if his draft year was done over would he go first overall. The rookies around the NHL, including Ottawa's Maxime Lajoie and Brady Tkachuk, have turned some heads through the first month of the season. In the second period of the podcast we look at teams, and players, off to a slow start. Are the L.A. Kings in danger of becoming old, slow dinosaurs in the faster, more skillful game we're seeing today? And what about big money free agent signings, Loui Erikksson, Milan Lucic, Dion Phaneuf? In the final period Mike tells you about the trade market rumours around the league, including how many teams are in on Leafs holdout William Nylander and if we'll see some big trades soon.

Paul is joined by the Edmonton Journal and Sun's Jim Matheson to slap around the issues in the NHL this week. In the first period Jim tells us about the battle this week between Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, and the bigger changing of the guard between the old faces of the NHL, Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, and the new dogs like McDavid, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, followed by even younger burgeoning stars like Elias Pettersson and Rasmus Dahlin. In the second segment Jim and Paul talk about the suprising start of the Canadian teams. Are Toronto really a contender? What about Montreal? And are Ottawa the most surpising team of all? In the third period the guys talk about Carey Price tying Patrick roy for the second-most wins in Habs history. Discussion turns to the role of goalies in the NHL today with goals and offence seemingly on the rise.

Vancouver Canucks beat writer Ben Kuzma joins Paul Chapman for this week's Off the Post podcast. They talk about the hit by Mike Matheson on Vancouver's Elias Pettersson that divided the hockey world. Should the NHL protect it's stars better like the NFL? Was it even an illegal hit? Is the NHL's ‘code' of protecting players fading away? Also they talk about this week's legalization of marijuana in Canada and what that could mean for NHL players. In the second period the talk turns to, who else, the Leafs. With Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly having red-hot starts to the season, they examine the Leafs true chances to end Canada's Stanley Cup drought, but also how it proves the need for a deadly power play in today's game. In the final period they rank the NHL's best and worst teams, look at some of the bigger surprises (Montreal and Ottawa) around the league and which divisions have the toughest races.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun joins Paul Chapman. Steve talks about how he's been pleasantly surprised at the offensive hockey being played so far around the league and how it's a good sign of how the season is going to progress. He also runs through some of the better stories in the league, in particular Montreal, where so far they look like they'll exceed expectations. Steve also tells us why you can never believe an NHL goalie. Talk then turns to the teams that might be in trouble, and which General Managers should be lauded for making bold moves and how teams like San Jose are being rewarded for taking risks. Lastly, the lads then talk about the youth movement in the NHL, and how players like Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson are joining the crop of youngsters like Auston Matthews, Patrick Laine, Mark Scheifele and Jack Eichel to see a changing of the guard in the NHL. Steve counts Johnny Gaudreau and Conor McDavid as players leading the charge in the new NHL, but also laments how the Edmonton Oilers just can't seem to make any progress despite having the best player in the game today.

This week Calgary Flames writer Kristen Anderson joins Paul Chapman to talk about the start of the NHL season. In the First Period they talk about the importance of the C, is Shea Weber the right choice for the Canadiens? The Canucks have chosen not to pick a captain? Does it matter? In the Second Period Kristen looks ahead to which teams will compete for the Stanley Cup and explains why it's good for the league to have the Leafs as one of the best teams, even if the rest of the country hates them. In the Third Period we have some fun, as Kristen shares her rankings of favourite NHL uniforms and also tells us, after escaping snowy Calgary, her favourite road cities to visit while she's on the NHL beat.

It's time to drop the puck, and you can get caught up with Postmedia's revamped Off The Post podcast. Toronto Maple Leafs beat writer Lance Hornby joins Paul Chapman to preview the burgeoning NHL season. Which teams in the East are the ones to watch? How about the West? Will a Canadian team ever win the Stanley Cup again? Whose tire fire burns brighter, Montreal or Ottawa? All these questions and more are answered along with predictions for the Stanley Cup, the Art Ross and Hart winners, which rookies you should watch and which front offices are already feeling the heat — we're looking at you Marc Bergevin. Join us, this week and everyweek for the lowdown on the inner workings of the NHL from our hockey insiders.

John is joined by Matt Cane, editor for Hockey-Graphs.com, to discuss the upcoming NHL free agency crop through the lens of Cane's prediction model.

John is joined by Gus Katsaros, analyst for McKeen's Hockey, to preview the conference finals and talk about the Maple Leafs' GM vacancy.

John is joined by David Ling, a 43-year-old former NHLer who has played professionally for two decades, to discuss his journey.

John is joined by Michael Traikos, national hockey writer for Postmedia, to handicap the second round of the NHL playoffs.

John is joined by Tim Thompson, filmmaker and ex-pro hockey player, to chat about his famous Hockey Night in Canada video montages, and much more.

John is joined by Matthew Coller, hockey writer for ESPN Insider, to preview the opening round of the NHL playoffs.

John is joined by Josh Clipperton, national hockey writer for The Canadian Press, for Part 2 of a two-part series focused on NHL awards. This episode examines candidates for the Norris, Adams, Byng and Calder.

John is joined by Travis Yost, hockey writer for TSN.ca, for Part 1 of a two-part series focused on NHL awards. This episode examines candidates for the Hart, Selke and Vezina trophies

John is joined by Michael Traikos, national hockey writer for Postmedia, to discuss a variety of topics, including goalie interference, disappointing Canadian teams, Evander Kane, and more.

John is joined by Bill Hoppe, Sabres writer for BuffaloHockeyBeat.com, to discuss NHL rebuilds and, specifically, what we can learn from the Sabres' missteps since drafting Jack Eichel.

John is joined by Peter Tanner, creator of MoneyPuck.com, to discuss the NHL's playoff races and which teams have the highest odds to win the Stanley Cup.

John is joined by Michael Traikos, national hockey writer for Postmedia, to recap the NHL trade deadline and serve up our winners/losers from a hectic week of transactions.

John is joined by Scott Cullen, hockey columnist for TSN, to forecast what may happen in the leadup to the NHL trade deadline. Mike Hoffman, Mike Green, Rick Nash and Evander Kane among the players discussed.

John is joined by Rob Longley, who is covering hockey for Postmedia at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, to chat about Team Canada's chances in both the men's and women's tournaments.

John and guest co-host Michael Traikos are joined by Swedish hockey writer Uffe Bodin to discuss the Rangers, the Swedish defenceman pipeline, Rasmus Dahlin, Sweden's hockey Mount Rushmore, and more.

John is joined by Travis Yost, hockey writer for TSN, to reflect on Jaromir Jagr's career and dissect the Vegas Golden Knights' incredible NHL debut.

John is joined by Stefan Legein, former pro hockey player and world junior gold medalist, to discuss not meeting expectations, retiring at 19, getting yelled at by strangers, staring down suicide, the road to recovery, loving hockey again and becoming a father.

John is joined by Matt Larkin, associate senior writer for The Hockey News, as well as Michael Traikos, national hockey writer for Postmedia, to chat about the NHL's revamped skills competition, everybody's dream off-the-record scenario, and Matt's mascot rankings.

John is joined by Gus Katsaros, analyst for McKeen's Hockey, to dissect what's unique about an NHL forward in 2018 versus those who played the position in years past.

John is joined by Michael Traikos, Postmedia's national hockey writer, to chat about the NHL's potential trade deadline buyers/sellers, hottest commodities, and hand out the 56% awards.

John is joined by Terry Koshan, hockey reporter at the Toronto Sun, AND Chris Peters, prospect writer at ESPN, to tie a bow on the world juniors. Team Canada takeaways, 2018 draft impressions.

John is joined by Matthew Coller, hockey analyst/writer for 1500 ESPN and ESPN Insider, to get into the holiday spirit and hand out gifts to NHL teams.

John is joined by NHL analysts and Maple Leafs bloggers Anthony Petrielli and Ian Tulloch to discuss the NHL's best and most intriguing forward lines ... and talk some Leafs.

John and special guest host Michael Traikos chat with ex-NHLer Anthony Stewart, a two-time member of Team Canada's world junior team, about chasing international glory as a teenager.