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 contact@alicianaser.com 

Daren is joined by Dave Goucher, the TV play-by-play voice of the Vegas Golden Knights (7:00). Goucher discusses where the Golden Knights are at this point in the season, explains what potential playoff matchup would intrigue him the most and talks about his journey from getting cut by BU's JV hockey team to an NHL broadcast booth. He goes back in time to talk about his days as the Boston Bruins radio announcer and how it prepared him for joining the Vegas Golden Knights for their first season as the TV voice of the team. Daren wraps up the episode discussing his top 5 Cinderella teams as the Stanley Cup Playoffs near. 

Daren is back and is joined by Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette (6:02). Brunette talks about the Predators season thus far, being in the playoff hunt, working with Barry Trotz, his coaching philosophy and his approach when communicating with players. After Brunette, Daren goes through the trade deadline moves and breaks down the teams he thinks positioned themselves best for the stretch run and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Daren is joined by former St. Louis Blues coach and Stanley Cup champion Craig Berube (2:45). Craig talks about the highly competitive Western Conference, the trade that the Vancouver Canucks made for Elias Lindholm, the challenges of taking over a team during the season, the goalie decisions being made with the NY Rangers and the issues going on with the Los Angeles Kings. He discusses his relationship with Rick Tocchet and what's made him successful in Vancouver and tries to explain the intensity that Rick brings to a team everyday as a coach. Plus, he raves about the Four Nations Face-Off and provides insight into why NHL players love international competition. He talks about his desire to coach again, and how he's staying busy scouting the NHL landscape during his downtime. 

Daren is joined by Nick Kypreos to talk about NHL All Star weekend in Toronto, the evolution of the Skills Competition and what he's looking forward to most with Toronto hosting the festivities. He chats about the playoff odds for the Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers, the LA Kings and New Jersey Devils. He reminisces about past All Star Skills events and gives his opinion on the revamped competition. 

Daren is joined by Alexandre Daigle (3:09). Daigle is featured in a new documentary,  ‘Chosen One: Alexandre Daigle' to launch Jan. 26 on Prime Video in Canada and ESPN + on Jan. 27. Daigle chats with Daren about how the documentary came about and why the process of participating in the film was therapeutic for him. He looks back on his NHL career and looks at many of the contributing factors that led to him being out of the NHL at just 25 years old. He explains how his love for hockey ultimately returned after stepping away from the game and still remains years later. He chats about the importance of mental health, media training and goal setting for players and lays out what the perfect conditions would be for a top draft pick starting in the NHL. He provides advice and perspective to young NHL stars, including Connor Bedard. Daren closes the episode with thoughts on Patrick Roy's return to the NHL as coach of the NY Islanders and what Corey Perry's impact could be for the Edmonton Oilers. 

Daren is joined by US Olympian and PWHL Minnesota player Kelly Pannek (3:13). Kelly talks about the start of the PWHL, the record crowds being drawn in Minnesota for Women's hockey and the change in lifestyle that's occurred for her as a professional hockey player. She discusses just how important the PWHL has been for her, her teammates and aspiring women's hockey players throughout the world. She looks forward to her participation at the NHL All Star Game in Toronto and takes some time to pump up her fellow PWHL players and talk about the high end skill that exists in the League. 

Daren is joined by three-time Stanley Cup winner and current Sportsnet analyst Justin Williams (7:41). Williams touches on William Nylander's new contract, the awkward Cutter Gauthier situation, the high-end skill of the Vancouver Canucks, Max Pacioretty's return from injury. He talks about his transition into broadcasting, advice he's received from Erin Andrews and Rod Brind'Amour, Rich Tocchet and Keith Jones. Daren starts the episode breaking down the Flyers/Ducks trade and looks at Calder contenders now that Connor Bedard will be missing time due to injury. 

Daren is joined by John Shannon in an episode that covers a bunch, including the contract situations of Steven Stamkos and William Nylander, the prospects of another goalie reaching 1000 games played, the revamped All Star Skills competition, the depth in the Western Conference and Evgeni Malkin's legacy. Plus, Shannon provides some insight into the TV presentation of NHL games, what works and what doesn't. 

Daren is joined by Vegas Golden Knights D-man Zach Whitecloud (4:08). Zach's journey to the NHL and to a Stanley Cup Champion is fascinating and he gets into all the details, from growing up in Manitoba to his love for outdoor hockey, playing college hockey, Zach takes you behind the curtain on what it means to be an NHLer. Plus, he discusses the Winter Classic, the best part of playing outdoors, what the Golden Knights biggest advantage this season is and he reminisces about the quirky rinks he played on as a kid in Manitoba. Daren wraps up the episode with an assessment of the NHL at this point in the season. 

Daren is joined by Red Wings D-man Jake Walman (10:18). Jake discusses why getting traded to Detroit has been good for his development and his daily interaction with Red Wings' Hall of Famers, including Steve Yzerman and Nick Lidstrom. Plus, he explains why Alex Ovechkin was his favorite player growing up and how his goal celebrations were inspired by Ovechkin. He dives deep into his Griddy Dance celebration, how it came about and some of the tweaks he's made to it over time. He's not shy about admitting that he's developing future celebrations and chats about why he's embraced the attention that has come along with his outgoing celebrations. Plus, he chimes in on playing with Patrick Kane, his favorite music artists, his upcoming bobblehead night and why he pays attention to football and basketball. Daren opens the episode going through the ins and outs of the St. Louis Blues coaching change. 

Daren is joined by Clayton Keller (7:43). Keller talks about the Coyotes start to the season, playing for André Tourigny, Connor Ingram's unbelievable return to the NHL and the prospects of playing an in-season international tournament. Daren riffs on the LA Kings remarkable road success, his early choices for the Jack Adams Award and ponders some of the roster construction for international competition.  

Daren is joined by Sean Walker of the Philadelphia Flyers (8:00). Sean talks about making the move from LA to Philadelphia, getting traded in the midst of getting married, his honeymoon to Italy, playing under John Tortorella and the expectations of the team moving forward. He also discusses the on-ice skills he'd steal from Owen Tippett and Bobby Brink, two young players that have left an impression on him. Plus, how does he work on his golf game during the season? and how did the challenge of being an undrafted player ultimately lead to his NHL success? Daren provides his opinion on Patrick Kane signing with Detroit and weighs in on the challenges Kane faces trying to come back from hip resurfacing surgery and he chimes in on Minnesota moving on from Dean Evason and hiring John Hynes. 

Daren is joined by his old pal and former NHL executive, coach and commentator Doug MacLean (3:05). Doug is happily retired and shares some hilarious stories, including how he failed to recognize a Hall a Famer on the golf course and just how a fire on a golf cart got him into some hot water. Plus, he talks about his book Draft Day... go buy it now! And of course he weighs in on what's currently happening in the League right now, including William Nylander's emergence, the Oilers early struggles, the sustainability of the Bruins and the importance of culture in NHL dressing rooms. This conversation casts a wide net... Happy Thanksgiving from The Chirp with Daren Millard and this week's guest Doug MacLean! 

Daren is joined by former NHL goalie and current NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider (6:04). Schneider discusses his new role with NHL Network, provides first-hand insight into what Jack Campbell is dealing with and talks about teams that right now are insulating their goalies very well, including the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars. He looks back at some of the best shots he's ever faced and discusses the "art" of defending Ovechkin's slapshot. Daren opens the episode providing his opinion on the Oilers making a coaching change and closes the episode looking at potential new overtime rules. 

Daren is joined by head coach of the Anaheim Ducks Greg Cronin (5:35). Greg starts by talking about the Ducks surprising start, the expectations he has for the team, the adjustments that he had to communicate to the young players in training camp, how he landed the job and some of his past experiences as a hockey coach. Greg is 60 years old and his stories encompass a lot, including his time in the AHL and as a NHL assistant. This conversation is quite a journey and branches into many areas, including how Greg's philosophy toward life changed, the evolution of his demeanor and the realization of achieving his dream of being a head coach in the NHL. 

Daren Millard is joined by Nick Kypreos (5:38). Kypreos discusses the Senators turning the page on Pierre Dorion and provides the player's perspective on adopting neck protection and why the process of adopting equipment changes is a little more complicated than what's on the surface. He looks at the impressive starts by the Boston Bruins and the Vegas Golden Knights and is pretty clear why he believes the start Vegas has had is more impressive. Plus, Daren admits he's wrong... a complete shocker! 

Daren is joined by Evan Bouchard (8:05) and Jack Hughes (22:00). Bouchard talks about the Oilers difficult start to the season, the excitement surrounding the Heritage Classic, the adjustments he's anticipating having to make for an outdoor game and the intensity of the Battle of Alberga. Hughes is living the dream and he's not afraid to talk about it, he tells Daren about his epic summer of activities, including attending an F1 race with Cole Caufield. He talks about how excited he is to play outdoors at Metlife Stadium this season, explains why Lindy Ruff has been a great coach for him and looks back at his first experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Daren dives deep into some of the NHL EDGE stats provided to fans and tries to draw some conclusions based on the numbers. Plus, he looks at some of the surprising starts (good and bad) that teams are having across the NHL. 

Daren is joined by Brian Boyle (3:05) to go around the NHL and touch on some of the early season storylines, including the impact that Peter Laviolette has had on the NY Rangers, the approach the Lightning have to take to win games with Vasy out due to injury, the Golden Knights avoiding an early season Stanley Cup hangover and some of the feisty play seen throughout the league. A lot of attention has been given to Evgeny Kuznetsov's super slow shootout move and Brian is here to discuss why Kuzy's move is all above board and why goalies should stop complaining about it. He also shares a few of his favorite John Tortorella stories and explains his approach to coaching his 8 year old hockey team. 

Daren is joined by Kevin Cheveldayoff (2:25) & Connor McDavid (19:38). Cheveldayoff provides an inside look on how the Jets went about signing two of the franchises most important players at the same time, offers an outlook on the season and discusses the expectations surrounding the Jets as the season gets underway. McDavid discusses the intense focus that the Oilers have to win the Stanley Cup, the growth of the core group of players, and the lessons learned from previous early exits in the playoffs.  

Kenny Albert takes a little time out from his busy broadcast schedule to join Daren (2:02) to talk about his new book A Mic for All Seasons. The book chronicles Kenny's  charmed yet unlikely journey in the broadcasting business. He recalls stories from his days calling minor-league hockey and discusses his unique relationship with Barry Trotz. Plus, he talks about working alongside Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Olczyk, Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Kenny goes in detail about life in the booth, game preparation, travel hijinks and much more. Plus, he looks ahead to the upcoming NHL season and chats about Connor Bedard, the Edmonton Oilers and the up and coming Senators & Sabres. 

Daren is joined by Cole Caufield (3:30) and Tom Wilson (25:17). Caufield talks about his F1 experience over the summer, his favorite nickname and his connection to Marty St. Louis. Wilson chats about the unique role he's taken on as Alex Ovechkin continues to chase Wayne Gretzky's goal record, his ability to play the villain and his vivid memories of winning the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. Daren looks at 5 teams that are capable of either winning their Division or can completely miss the playoffs. The Kings, Jets, Flames, Penguins and Bruins are being considered by Daren as 'all or nothing' teams.  

Daren is joined by Robert Thomas (4:45) and Bill Daly (22:45). Thomas talks about taking boxing classes with the Tkachuk's and bringing his new puppy out on the golf course for 18 holes. Daly touches on the NHL's trip to Australia and the chances of the NHL participating in the next Winter Olympics. Daren dissects the controversy surrounding Mike Babcock in Columbus and looks ahead to the challenges that the Blue Jackets will face on the ice as the season gets underway in three weeks (18:35). Plus, what are Daren's 3 top storylines heading into the season ? (40:00). 

Daren is joined by Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon (2:50) to talk about winning the Stanley Cup, the key moves that were made to accomplish the goal and the journey from expansion team to champion. Plus, he looks ahead to building a roster for 2024 and the challenge of quickly turning the page to preparing for the NHL Draft. Meghan Duggan, the NJ Devils Director of Player Development, joined Daren (40:27) to discuss how her role with the Devils has progressed since being hired, the influence of Tom Fitzgerald on her career and the exciting upside of this Devils roster. She also took some time to talk about the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition and the goal of those involved to advance equality and inclusion on and off the ice. 

Daren is joined by Mike Bolt, one of the Keeper's of the Cup to share some of his best Stanley Cup stories (1:30). Bolt takes some time to discuss some of the details of his job, the rules surrounding the Stanley Cup, the celebrity run-ins he's had over the years and a crazy story that happened when he was in Afghanistan with the Stanley Cup. Bolt has held the job for 23 years and he looks back to discuss some of the most memorable parties with the cup, his favorite photos of the Stanley Cup and the magnetism that the trophy has had for many years. 

Daren is joined by Bruce Cassidy (1:50) and Eddie Olczyk (21:44). Cassidy talks about his team's journey to the Stanley Cup Final, including a very satisfying series wins over the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars. Bruce says the victory over the high powered Oilers team will be remembered if they go onto win the Stanley Cup and talked about Adin Hill's emergence as the team's goalie, William Karlsson's offensive surge and Jack Eichel's game throughout his first appearance in the playoffs. Cassidy explains why he's taking a more "business" like approach this time around compared to his trip with the Boston Bruins in 2019. Olczyk breaks down the series from every angle and touches on a variety of intriguing storylines, including the Florida Panthers unlikely run to this point, Sergei Bobrovsky catching fire and Matthew Tkachuk's unique ability to always be involved in winning hockey games. Plus, he talks about Jack Eichel's performance, Paul Maurice's steady hand and the toughness of players like Sam Bennett and Radko Gudas. Edzo talks about his approach to calling Stanley Cup Final games, his relationship with Keith Jones and how he came up with Keith Tkachuk's nickname. 

Daren is joined by Dallas Eakins (1:20) to talk about the Conference Finals and how the Golden Knights and Panthers have taken surprising 3-0 series leads. Eakins discusses why he'd prefer to coach teams that feature depth rather than a few star players and why Paul Maurice has had success wherever he goes. He looks at the undisciplined play by Jamie Benn and tries to explain why NHL players sometimes lose their cool even in crucial situations, such as the playoffs. Plus, thoughts on how the Golden Knights are  winning with their 3rd string goalie and what has stood out from Jack Eichel's play. He talks about what his future looks like in coaching and why he loves working in television . He says he doesn't have many superstitions, but he makes sure he has a certain type of beverage with him when he's on the bench... what is it and how did the routine begin? 

Daren is joined by  Colby Armstrong (1:15) to discuss all the surrounding storylines of the Conference Finals. They talk about the four coaches remaining, their styles and the fact that 3 of the 4 are new coaches to their respective teams. Plus, what do the remaining teams have in common? Armstrong points to grit, toughness and overall nastiness that he believes is still needed for a team to win a Stanley Cup. Plus, a look at the Conn Smythe race and the unique goalie situations that are a bit abnormal for this time of year.  Colby tries to handicap each series, but admits that it's so difficult to predict with all the teams being so evenly matched. 

Daren is joined by Nick Kypreos to discuss all the Second Round storylines, including the Leafs avoiding a sweep against the Panthers, the reasons for their struggles and management's future if they ultimately lose the series. Plus, he explains why the Oilers/Golden Knights series has been so nasty and discusses just how in-depth scouting reports are during the playoffs. Kypreos looks at Rod Brind'Amour and thinks he's the best coach in the NHL, with the ability to motivate and make tactical adjustments to give his team an edge. 

Daren is joined by TNT analyst Darren Pang (1:00) to talk about how the balance of power in the playoffs have shifted with the Boston Bruins being eliminated in the first round and who he thinks the favorites are now to win the Stanley Cup. Pang thinks the playoffs are wide open and could make a case for every team. They talk about the Oilers star power vs. the Golden Knights depth, and Pang tells some great stories about Bruce Cassidy as he was a teammate of his on 5 different teams. The guys discuss how the power play is determining games and wonder if it's having too much influence in the outcomes of playoff games. Plus, Pang shares his thoughts on the pressure that's mounting on Gerard Gallant, Matthew Tkachuk's gritty style of play, and Leon Draisaitl's knack for managing heavy minutes on the ice. 

Daren is joined by Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine and NHL.com to discuss the intricacies of the goalie position and some of the goalie storylines developing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Who has been the best goalie in the playoffs thus far ? You will be surprised by Kevin's answer. Plus, a look at Andrei Vasilevskiy and Derek Lalonde's comments about him struggling with shots from the point, the emergence of Akira Schmid, the brilliance of Jake Oettinger and the issues surrounding the Minnesota Wild's goalie tandem. 

Daren is joined by Sportsnet lead play-by-play voice Chris Cuthbert (2:07). Cuthbert talks about the ins and outs of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning and touches on the tense vibe that exists in Toronto at this time of year. Who has a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup, Toronto or Edmonton? Cuthbert is a believer in the Oilers and thinks they have less pressure on them than Toronto does. He discusses the luxury of getting access to NHL coaches during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and how his pre-game meetings with coaches often lead to very critical information that he weaves into broadcasts. He reminisces about some of his early days in broadcasting, a funny flub the first time he was on the air and talks about his favorite venues to call hockey games from. 

Daren is joined by ESPN lead analyst Ray Ferraro (2:50) to talk about a bunch of the intriguing storylines ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He points out some of the issues that are plaguing the NY Rangers (19:00), the goalie dilemma that may capture everyone's attention in Toronto (15:00) and the pressure that the Boston Bruins are facing after their record-breaking regular season (10:00). He also breaks down why the Edmonton Oilers power play gives opponents fits (24:00) and handicaps what NHL coach could match up with Dean Evason in a scrap (26:30). Ray is excited to see Jack Eichel make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut (27:00) and also believes that a lot more teams will be utilizing goalie tandems than in the past (32:00).