Off the Rush

We are down to the last four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stars and Oilers are facing off again in what should be an entertaining and high scoring series. Out East, it looks like the Canes and Panthers will deliver a snooze fest. We discuss the Leafs and their fans having yet another existential crisis and the World Hockey Championships as well, enjoy! This show is brought to you by Designated Drinks, who proudly carry the largest selection of non alcoholic beers in all of Canada. Check them out at designateddrinks.ca

There is a new man in charge of the Canucks bench and it's a familiar face, Adam Foote has been promoted and is now the Head Coach. Will Foote being named the coach be enough to keep Quinn Hughes happy? We break this down, as well as discussing Rick Tocchet's new gig in Philly. The Leafs laid an egg in their biggest game of the season and the fans booed them off the ice, are they done? We discuss this,as well as the other playoff series and more, enjoy! This episode is brought to you by Designated Drinks! They have the largest selection of non-alcoholic beers in Canada, you can find them at https://www.designateddrinks.ca/

The first round is in the books and it delivered in giving hockey fans everywhere top notch entertainment, intrigue and drama! The Blues had the Jets on the brink of elimination but in the end the White Out rallied the team to an amazing comeback! We preview all of the Round 2 match-ups and provide you with our picks, enjoy!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It doesn't get any better than the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and we're here to walk you through our series winner predictions, as well as to discuss the games that have been played already. Enjoy!

Alexander Ovechkin is now greatest goal scorer of all time. Ovi passed Wayne with style and celebrated with his teammates, unlike Lebron who enjoyed his scoring record standing alone. Is this an example of hockey being more of a team sport culturally than basketball? We discuss! We also take a look at the potential hall of fame careers of some vets that are about to head into the playoffs with their respective teams. Enjoy!

The coaches in the Metropolitan Division are cranky! Patty Roy and John Tortorella each throw one of their players under the bus and in Torts's case, it costs him his job. The guys debate whether this type of move has a place in today's game. We also discuss the surging St. Louis Blues and how much credit Jobu should get for their success. We also keep an eye on Ovi's pursuit of the all time goals record, enjoy!

The NHL Wildcard race is going down to the wire, particularly out East. Allan and the Dave's break down who they think will make it and who will be left on the outside looking in. We also discuss the controversial no-goal call in Long Island that could have major playoff implications. Does the league need to do more to clarify what constitutes goalie interference? We think so! We also break down Thatcher Demko's return for the stretch drive and what this means for the Canucks long term. Enjoy!

The trade deadline has come and gone and it was a doozy! We saw some huge names find new homes, but also, some familiar faces returning to their old stomping grounds. Teams have loaded up and are ready for the stretch drive and so are we, enjoy!

We're back after a 2 week break and we re-cap the insanity that was the Four Nations Face-Off! This tournament over-delivered and was a spectacular ride. Allan and the Dave's confess to struggling to be interested in regular season NHL hockey as it's about 2 levels slower than the tournament. We also discuss the upcoming NHL trade deadline and Mikko Rantanen's impact on it. Enjoy!

The Four Nations Face-Off starts this week, and we ask the question, does anyone care? We try our best to get hyped for this tournament but it seems to be lacking some sizzle. We break down the first few games of the big names that were traded last week, and assess the possibility of one of them being moved again! Mikko Rantanen seems to want out of Carolina already, what could he fetch on the market? Is he worth the dollars he wants? We do our best to answer these questions and more this week on OTR, enjoy!

The Avs and Canes pull off a blockbuster trade that stunned the rest of the league, somehow Chicago got the worst of a deal they weren't even really in! It's one last go around the block at the Bell Centre for Marc Andre Fleury. We marvel at how he came into his home town for the last time and put up a doughnut against the Habs. We also continue to follow the Canucks trade rumor drama, and discuss the 4 Nations Face-Off captaincy announcements. Enjoy!

Out west it's a disaster as the Canucks continue to self destruct before our eyes. Will JT Miller be dealt before the end of the season or over the Summer? We discuss! The Habs continue to find ways to win and Patrick Laine is leading the way. Are they the 2025 team of Destiny? Will the surging Blue Jackets do it for Johnny and make the playoffs? We think so! We also break down Kyle Dubas's performance at the Pens GM and more on this week's episode of OTR!

We are back from our extended holiday break and we came out swinging! The Dave's and Allan discuss the drama in Vancouver and land on the solution of trading both Miller and Petey. We think it's time for a re-set out West. We move out east discuss the return of the Flying Frenchmen as the Habs continue to climb the standings in the Atlantic Division. We also break down the Leafs latest losing streak and debate whether or not they're a "fraud team". Enjoy!

It's our 125th show! We tackle the hot rumor that the Canucks and Sabres may be cooking up a blockbuster trade. We also discuss the resurgence of Patrick Laine, and where he sits in the pecking order of elite NHL snipers. Enjoy!

The 4 Nations Face-Off rosters are now official! We discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the selections. Team USA in particular, made some controversial choices. We also break down the Luke Richardson firing in Chicago, and try to make sense of a seemingly needless move. Enjoy!

We break down the biggest trade of the NHL season to date, as the Jackets ship David Jiricek to the Wild. We also discuss Team Canada's history of questionable roster decisions ahead of this week's 4 Nations Face-off roster announcements. Enjoy!

The Bruins are running out of time and have run out of patience. Jim Montogmery was sent packing and was replaced by Joe Sacco. Did Jim deserve this. or is he the fall guy for the management team? We break this down and more on the latest episode of OTR. Enjoy!

Connor McDavid hits 1000 points at age 27, making him the 4th fastest player to accomplish this feat in NHL history. Will he hit 2000 points, and moreover, will he do it in an Oilers jersey? We take a look at this year's NHL inductees for the Hockey Hall of Fame and it turns into our 4th annual Mogilny debate. Will there be another snub for number 89 next year? We think so! We also discuss whether or not it's time for the Habs to go full sell mode. Enjoy!

The Winnipeg Jets are an absolute wagon! 14 games into the season and just one loss, there is no slowing down the Jets. We discuss whether or not this run of theirs is sustainable. We also look at the Wild, who are quietly having a great start to the season. The Preds and Avs were supposed to be the class of the Central but are sputtering badly. Trotz is talking about taking the wrecking ball to his team, but with all the NTC's in Nashville, is it even possible? We also discuss the latest trade rumors in Vancouver. Is Bowen Byram about to come home? Enjoy!

The sky is falling in Edmonton as Connor McDavid goes down with an injury and the team gets blown out in Columbus. How will the Oilers go on without their captain? Kevin Lankinen is the feel good story in Vancouver right now and we think Patrick Allvin deserves all of the credit. We discuss Brad Marchand's pending contract extension, and we break down the biggest draft busts in recent memory. Enjoy!

The Preds are 0-5 despite going big game hunting in free agency. Are heads going to roll? Will they miss the playoffs? The Avalanche are 1-4 and can't get a save. Should Colorado be thinking about making a change in goal? Meanwhile, the Jets and Flames are off to hot starts and we debate which team is the bigger surprise. Jake Oettinger is the latest goalie to get a big payday, will he lead the Stars to the promised land? We discuss all of this and more on this week's episode of OTR. Enjoy!

Jeremy Swayman gets his bag and is back with the Bruins! After a stand-off with Cam "Sea Bass" Neely, the Bruins have their number 1 goalie back. Should Swayman have held out for longer? We discuss this and more on this week's edition of OTR. Enjoy!

It's the Season Premiere episode of OTR and we couldn't be happier to be back! We go through each division and offer up our thoughts for how the NHL season will shake out. We also make our bold predictions for the NHL season. We get into the Swayman situation in Boston, and how the Bruins management team has completely bungled the negotiation process. Enjoy!

The Florida Panthers made it a little more exciting than they would've liked, but they won their first Stanley Cup. Allan and the Dave's give you their thoughts on the series. We also discuss the NHL Awards, this week's trades, free agency and the upcoming draft. Enjoy!

The Stanley Cup Finals are upon us and the Dave's and Allan give you their breakdowns of who will win, in how many games, and why. We also discuss the announced Four Nations Cup, the Salary Cap increase. and what the Canucks and Habs will look to do at the draft and in free agency. Enjoy!

The final four in the NHL is set and the Oilers are battling the Stars out West, while the Rangers clash with the Panthers in the East. We give you our series winner predictions and discuss who the difference makers will be for each team. We also reflect on what was a really enjoyable and successful season from the Canucks. Enjoy!

We are down to 8 teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs! It's going to be a battle in Western Canada as the Canucks take on the Oilers. We aren't sure what will be bloodier, the fights on the ice or the fights between the fans. We offer our predictions and thoughts on all four second round match-ups. Enjoy!

It's Round One of the Playoffs and there has been nothing but drama and controversy so far! We touch on all of that and share our thoughts on how each series has progressed. We also pay tribute to one of the best hockey announcers ever to put on a headset, Bob Cole. Enjoy!

The Eastern Conference Wildcard race came to a dramatic and controversial end last night. We recorded right in the middle of the drama and it was an absolute blast! We also discussed Auston Matthews and his pursuit of a 70 goal season, Connor McDavid's 100 assist campaign, and of course the Arizona Coyotes pending relocation to Utah. Enjoy!

It's been a wild week in the NHL! Matthew Rempe got the book thrown at him for a spicy chicken wing, John Tortorella got a 2 game suspension and a 50K fine for not leaving the bench, and the Vegas Golden Knights continue to manipulate the cap and play chess when everyone else is playing checkers. We discuss all of this and more, enjoy!

The Canucks played hardball with Petey, the Leafs can't lose, and Sid the Kid continues to impress. We discuss all this and more on this week's episode of OTR. Enjoy!

One of the best to ever do it, Jaromir Jagr was honored by the Penguins as his number ascended to the rafters in Pittsburgh this week. We look back on his most memorable moments wearing the black and gold. We also discuss whether it's time to start worrying in Vancouver, as the Canucks are currently going through their first significant stretch of adversity this season. Finally, we discuss next season's Four Nations Cup and we are all hyped for the fist best on best men's hockey tournament in 8 years! Enjoy!

NHL All-Star Weekend was a shroom filled good time. Michael Buble stole the show with an amazing press conference, while Kucherov went full heel in Toronto. The Canucks and Flames made a huge trade, while the Habs doubled their haul on Monahan. We cover all of this and more on the latest episode of OTR. Enjoy!

A huge week! Patrick Roy returns to the NHL to coach.....the Islanders? Who saw that coming? Corey Perry is back in the league as he signs with the Oilers. Will he be a difference maker for them? The Leafs continue to play inconsistent hockey and management is throwing in the towel on this season. What kind of message does that send to their star players? We answer these questions and talk about the NHL All-Star weekend on this week's episode of OTR. Enjoy!

Willy Nylander secures the bag! The Leafs now have 4 of the top 11 heaviest salaries in the NHL and we all think that's insane. We break down the heel turn of Nick Cousins, is he the most hated player in the league? Jake Allen is still one of the Habs 3 goalies and that seems odd to us. All that and more on this week's edition of OTR. Enjoy!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Well...unless you're DJ Smith or Craig Berube. The Sens and Blues pulled the trigger right before the holidays and fired their coaches. Will this save their seasons? The guys discuss this, the Luongo Ring of Honour induction, dirty hits and more on our last show of 2023. We will be back in January. Happy New Year!

We are heading into the 1/3 mark of the season and there are some teams that are IN TROUBLE! The Dave's and Alan take an in-depth look at the fortunes of some clubs that should be panicking. We also discuss the Corey Perry situation and how the Blackhawks handled it. Enjoy!

Pack your bags Leon, the Off the Rush crew says your time with Edmonton is over. The Dave's and Allan kick off the show by wondering if it's time for the Oilers to move Draisitl, and if so, where? We also discuss the impossible task a few teams face in improving their goaltending during the season. Speaking of goalies, we show some love to Marc Andre Fleury for standing up to the league and doing what's right. Enjoy!

Every time we think the Oilers have hit rock bottom, the situation gets worse. Jay Woodcroft was let go this week and Allan and the Dave's can't help but think that Connor McDavid had a hand in it. The Canucks continue to impress as they took on Allan's Habs and beat them handily on Sunday. We discuss the game in detail and wonder aloud if the Canucks are the real deal. We also take a look at Connor Bedard's recent antics and declare the Calder race officially over. Enjoy!

This one's for Wayne! The Dave's and Allan kick off our 99th episode with their favorite Wayne Gretzky memories, as well as some reflections on their respective in the flesh encounters with the Great One. We discuss the Canucks having their best start in years, and how much of the credit should go to their new coach. We look at the teams that are hot out of the gates, as well as some ones that are as cold as the underside of a pillow. Enjoy!

The NHL season is underway and the two Dave's and Allan have you covered. The Canucks beat the Oilers in the first two games of the season and Connor McDavid is SALTY about it! The new Connor in the league is popping water bottles and eyeballs in Chicago, will he hit 100 points in his rookie year? Austin Matthews is looking like a 70 goal scorer this season but the goalies on his team are terrible. Will the Leafs go shopping for some help between the pipes before the playoffs? We also break down the Habs surprising start as Allan summarizes why there's room for optimism in Montreal. Enjoy!

McPhail, Hoskin, and Etmanski are all back with a vengeance to kick off the 2023-2024 NHL season! We talk about the Penguins and wonder if this season is their core's last dance. We break down "Phone Gate" in Columbus and wonder aloud what exactly was going through Mike Babcock's head. This season features a bumper crop of exciting rookies and we think the Calder race will be a great year long show. Is Steven Stamkos done in Tampa? Will Ovi break Wayne's goal record? Will the Canucks make the playoffs? We attempt to answer all of these questions and more. Enjoy!

It's our last episode of the season! We cover the draft, free agency, and the buyout bonanza. Who were the big winners and who failed miserably? We attempt to answer these questions and more. Thanks again to all of our loyal listeners for another terrific season. Have a great Summer and keep your balls in the fairway!

Phil Kessel is a 3 time Stanley Cup Champion! The Vegas Golden Knights get it done in 5 games over the Miami Kitties and we break it down for you. We talk about what's next for Adin Hill as he will be hitting the open market. We also look ahead to the draft and free agency, particularly at what the Canucks and Habs can do to improve. Enjoy!

The Stanley Cup Finals are half over and we discuss what the Panthers need to do to claw their way back into the series. We also break down the big front office shake-up in Toronto, as well as the big three-way trade between Columbus, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Enjoy!

The Stanley Cup Final is set! The Vegas Golden Knights are set to battle the Florida Panthers. We give you our predictions for the series and the consensus is that it will be close and hard fought. We break down how the Knights and Panthers got here, who the key contributors were, and what both teams need to do to close the deal. As always we give you our beer recommendations for the week. Enjoy!

The Leafs lose to the Panthers in five and the fans in Toronto are blaming everyone but the players. The Oilers go bust against Vegas and Allan wants blood in Alberta, the Dave's however think Edmonton is still very much within their window to win. We preview the upcoming Conference Finals and break down for you who we think will win and why. Enjoy!

The Draft Lottery came and went and Connor Bedard is heading to the Windy City. No one outside of Chicago seems ok with this result. The Maple Leafs fans wanted Florida and unfortunately for them there's no refunds. The Kraken continue their unlikely playoff run and Luke Hughes has injected some new life into the Devils. Enjoy!

The Leafs did it! They won a playoff round and will play their first 2nd round game on HDTV! The Bruins choked on a hairball against the Miami Kitties and will spend their Summer wondering what could have been. Connor McDavid and Uncle Leon are onto round 2 and the Hurricanes made it to Round 2 for the 5th straight year. We also talk about the upstart Seatlle Kraken and their huge Game 7 victory over the defending Cup champs. Enjoy!

The First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs remains undefeated in the world of sports. The drama, the intrigue, and the excitement are off the charts! The Leafs have charged out to an unlikely 3 games to 1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Will they get it done this time or suffer more heartbreak? The Kraken are hanging in there with the Cup Champs but Nathan McKinnon is taking over the series. The Oilers keep their hopes for a deep playoff run alive with a huge Game 4 win in LA, will they survive this scare from the Kings? We discuss all of this and more in a jam packed episode. Enjoy!

It's Playoffs time! The best time of year to be a hockey fan is upon us and we have you covered. We give you our Round 1 picks and our eventual Cup Winner. If you're in a pool, give this episode a listen BEFORE you draft. Hoskin has a Cup Champ pick at the end of the show that is truly shocking. Enjoy!