The Silky Mitten State

Sam and Connor debrief the Red Wings' pre-season to date, focusing in particular about the battle for the final roster spot, the goaltending rotation, and the state of Detroit's power play

Sam and Connor debrief the Red Wings' training camp from Traverse City. We start out by discussing the short and long-term future of a Larkin-Ramond-Seider driven Detroit team moving forward. From there, we touch on Derek Lalonde's future behind the bench, Dylan Larkin's leadership, and a hodgepodge of other TC-related subjects

Sam and Connor begin the show with the latest in Red Wings RFA news, talking about Lucas Raymond's brand new eight-year contract.  We express our sense that it could hardly be a better value from Detroit's perspective, while it does feel a bit as though Raymond could have pressed harder should that have been his prerogative.  From there, we move into discussing Moritz Seider's as-of-yet-unsigned contract, touching on likely term and AAV estimates. From there, we look ahead into the biggest positional battles heading into Red Wings camp.  Specifically, we consider whether any young forward other than Jonatan Berggren (i.e. Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, and Carter Mazur) can crack the roster, debate the team's depth options on defense, and discuss the goaltending rotation.

Sam and Connor debrief a quiet week for hockey around the state of Michigan, touching on Red Wings prospects, Seider and Raymond's negotiations, the Detroit power play heading into a new season, the goaltending rotation, and more!

The Silky Mitten State is back! Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood open with a word of love and remembrance for the late Johnny Gaudreau. From there, it's their first serious look ahead to Red Wings camp: Will Seider and Raymond be signed by then? How to arrange the top six wingers? What is the state of the D corps? Sam and Connor explore all that and more

Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood debrief the 2024 edition of the World Junior Summer Showcase, touching on USA Hockey Arena, the Red Wings prospects, David Carle, Finland's pugnacity, Team USA's path to gold, and more!

Sam and Connor discuss unsigned unrestricted free agents, Joe Veleno's future in Detroit, the return of college football to video game consoles across the nation, and a salute to Evegeny Kuznetsov in honor of what seems to be the end of his NHL career

Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood enjoy a lively conversation in a mostly quiet week of hockey in the state of Michigan. We focus on the fit of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane in Detroit's top six, Steven Stamkos as a proxy for free agent loyalty from teams, and a prospect round up.

On this week's show, Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton review a busy week for the Red Wings from the Draft in Vegas to free agency.  It's a free-flowing show organized around a simple question: Did Detroit improve this summer?

Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood chat about a busy, ongoing, and confusing week for hockey in the state of Michigan. First, a word on the possibility of a NTDP-CHL exhibition in the future, then they dive into the big news of the week: the baffling Jake Walman trade. After trying to make sense of it and its consequences, the boys jump into a discussion of trade rumors around Rutger McGroarty, debrief the Stanley Cup Final, and look ahead to this weekend's NHL Draft in Vegas

Connor and Sam discuss two major NHL trades from today (Dubois to Washington & Markstrom to New Jersey), before jumping into a conversation about Edmonton pulling back into contention in the Stanley Cup Final. They also discuss Filip Hronek's extension, Barclay Goodrow heading to San Jose, and Red Wings draft history.

On this week's show, Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood get started by talking about Elle Hartje, Detroit born and trained, getting drafted 25th overall by PWHL New York. From there, they move on to a discussion of two potential top six targets for the Red Wings in Patrik Laine and Jonathan Marchessault. They also touch on CapFriendly being sold to the Capitals, then wrap up with a round up of the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

On this week's show, Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood with a plug for THN Detroit's new book club.  Then, they dive into the announcement of a new behind-the-scenes NHL show coming to Amazon Prime this fall, starring a variety of NHL stars including Connor McDavid, Matthew Tkachuk, William Nylander, Jacob Trouba, and Gabriel Landeskog.  They then discuss what intrigues about the show, the inevitable comparisons to Netflix's "Drive to Survive" Formula One show, and what it would take for this to be noteworthy and not just more 'content' to fill time.  From there, they jump into a discussion of a few Red Wings' free agents, namely Lucas Raymond (with a foray into Moritz Seider), Patrick Kane, and David Perron. In the second half of the show, they discuss the goaltending market and ideal Red Wing targets including Jakub Markstrom and Juuse Saros.  They also discuss how going after a goaltender this summer would impact the development of Detroit's two simultaneous goaltending projects in Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa.  From there, they get into a Stanley Cup Final preview, touching on predictions, what excites about the match-up, and Conn Smythe contenders.   What exactly is at stake for Connor McDavid?  How will Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling hold up against the Oilers star? Finally, we wrap the show with a salute to Joe Pavelski. 

Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton get started with a spirited discussion of the significance of the superstitions around the Clarence Campbell Bowl and Prince of Wales Trophy.  We also congratulate the Saginaw Spirit bringing the Memorial Cup back to Michigan. We go on to discuss lessons the Red Wings can learn from the two conference finals.  Out West, we discuss what Dallas right and what the Oilers did even better, touching on the Edmonton PK, the Stars' chemistry, and Stuart Skinner's resilience. In the Eastern Conference Final, we discuss the source of the Panthers' dominance (the forecheck, defending the slot, and a general air of nastiness), as well as where the Rangers' formula fell short.  We get into the ways that Florida's brand of hockey can serve as a model for Detroit as it looks to continue its push toward the postseason.  We also consider the idea of "getting goalied" and its validity as an explanation for a series' outcome. We then jump into an extended discussion of the end of the Griffins' season and its ramifications for the 2024-25 Red Wings roster.  In particular, we wade into another discussion of Jonatan Berggren's future.

Sam and Connor open the show with a classic in the genre of contrived sports radio conversations: Who would you rather have, Alexis Lafreniere or Lucas Raymond? From there, they discuss Game 1 of Panthers-Rangers and look ahead to Stars-Oilers. Then, it's a discussion of a few developing stories from the world of college hockey, including the prospect of CHL players gaining NCAA eligibility. Finally, they wrap the show with a quick conversation about the Griffins

On this week's show, Connor and Sam discuss Alex Lyon's injury and Trey Augustine's relief performance at IIHF Worlds in Czechia, then take a look at three promising options at pick number 15 in June's draft. We then pivot into a conversation about Val Nichushkin's suspension and the limits of the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program, before touching on each ongoing second round Stanley Cup Playoff sereis

Connor and Sam discuss the wild and wonderful second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This includes extended breakdowns of each series but also a tangent about the tyranny of the prevailing fixation on the salary cap. They wrap the show by talking about another Leafs loss and the practicalities of trading Mitch Marner

Co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss the Rangers' first round rout of the Capitals and whether the Red Wings might have fared better. They also take stock of the Griffins' Calder Cup playoff run and its ramifications. Then, the show wraps with a discussion of two different Atlantic rivals: the Lightning and the Leafs

Co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood debrief the Red Wings' end-of-season press conferences, touching on a variety of topics from the urgency of the '25 postseason, tightening up defensively, Patrick Kane's future, and new contracts for Raymond & Seider. They also discuss the NHL's mess in Arizona, the potential of Salt Lake City, and close with a brief word on the ongoing playoffs.

On this week's show, co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood debrief the end of the line for the Red Wings and the University of Michigan hockey team. They get into detail with the particular cruelties of Detroit's season, as well as the path forward for Derek Lalonde, Steve Yzerman, and company. They also discuss the specific progress of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider this season. To wrap, they discuss Michigan falling short in the Frozen Four once more and share takeaways from U-M's season-ending defeat to BC

On this week's show, co-hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss another busy and increasingly high-stakes week of Red Wings hockey. The guys focus on the team's forward depth and various line tinkering we've seen in recent games. They also discuss Simon Edvinsson's impact to overall defensive depth. Finally, in the second half of the show, Connor and Sam preview the fast-approaching Frozen Four from St. Paul.

Co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood open the show by talking about a massive week for hockey at the University of Michigan. First, at a regents meeting, Denise Ilitch unveiled her intention to make hockey a varsity sport at U-M; then, Michigan beats MSU to secure its spot at next week's Frozen Four in St. Paul. After that, Sam and Connor discuss the Red Wings' precarious playoff hopes, Dylan Larkin battling through injury, the future of the Detroit goalie room, and which veterans have a place with the Red Wings next season.

On this episode, Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss the Red Wings dropping a must-win game in Washington before taking a look at the field of 16 for the men's NCAA Tournament, which will begin tomorrow

On this week's episode, Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss another busy week of Red Wings hockey. Before that though, they reflect on the joyful spectacle that was the PWHL's visit to Detroit. From there, they focus on the cascading impact of Dylan Larkin's return, a high-impact third line, questions in the Red Wing net with Alex Lyon and James Reimer delivering mixed results. The boys also discuss Lucas Raymond's continued progress in his third year in the NHL

Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss a bleak week of Red Wings' hockey, with the team's losing skid extending to seven games. They get into the total and self-perpetuating nature of Detroit's breakdowns as well as the questions it raises about the depth the team has touted all year. From there, they pivot into a conversation about the Red Wings' quiet deadline, before talking about some of the non-Detroit stories to emerge from the deadline. Finally, they talk about the NCAA Tournament picture, touching on Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Lake Superior State, and Michigan Tech's postseason journeys.

Cohosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss a busy week in the NHL. They start with an impromptu debate over who the second best team is in the East, before debriefing the Red Wings' 4-0 loss to Florida Saturday and the lessons Detroit can and should take from that game. Then, they move into Dylan Larkin's injury and what his absence means for Detroit's playoff push and deadline plans. From there, it's a longer discussion of deadline possibilities, before touching on Detroit's new and unwelcome jersey patch and MSU winning the Big Ten regular season title.

Co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood break down the week that was for the Red Wings. The show begins with a discussion of the team's current three-game win streak, then wanders into a discussion of Ben Chiarot's strong form and value to the Detroit lineup. From there, it's a pivot into a conversation about Michael Rasmussen's new extension and process of earning a long-term role in the Red Wings organization. In the back half of the show, Sam and Connor focus on the trade deadline and Detroit's plans beyond the season. That includes some chat about the four Wings currently playing on one-year contracts and shifts into potential deadline targets and moves. Enjoy!

Co-hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton debrief another week of hockey around the state of Michigan. It starts with a review of the Red Wings' 1-2-0 start coming out of the All-Star break—touching on the PP's struggles, Patrick Kane's fit, and Alex Lyon's form. Then, the conversation drifts to an extended evaluation of the Jarmo Kekäläinen era in Columbus, which has just reached its conclusion. Finally, the conversation wraps up with a discussion of last weekend's MSU sweep over Michigan.

Co-hosts Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss the new look All-Star skills challenge, Alex DeBrincat's All-Star performance, the NHL's return to men's best-on-best international hockey, and what to expect from the Red Wings as we push toward the trade deadline

Co-hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss a generally successful week of Red Wings hockey. They wade into the ways wins over Tampa and Philadelphia showed promise as far as the road to playoff contention and playoff success, before discussing Ville Husso's potential role upon returning to the lineup and Daniel Sprong's status as a bottom six sniper. They wrap the show with a thorough review of last weekend's split between Michigan and Michigan State.

Co-hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton look ahead to a massive series between Michigan and Michigan State this weekend, with a different feeling around the rivalry than there has been in some time. Then, they deconstruct a potentially massive tweet from UM regent Jordan Acker about women's hockey at Michigan. Finally, they close the show by discussing trust, Alex Lyon, Andrew Copp, and other sources of good feeling the Red Wings have enjoyed during a 6-0-1 start to the calendar year.

On this episode of The Silky Mitten State, Sam Stockton and Connor Earegood discuss Connor's trip from Pasadena to Houston to cover Michigan's first National Championship in football since 1997, an impressive California road trip from the Red Wings, a difficult game with the Oilers, Alex Lyon's status as Detroit's starter, Alex DeBrincat as an all-star, the U.S. winning World Junior gold, and much more!

Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss another disheartening week of Red Wings hockey, before sharing their excitement for the team the US will bring to the World Juniors. The show starts with a debrief of an 0-3 week for Detroit, culminating in the question: Is goaltending, offense, or defense most concerning for the Red Wings at the moment? The conversation drifts to the potential introduction of Simon Edvinsson into this lineup, before pivoting to the leadership Dylan Larkin showed in a difficult press conference in which he called out the NHL's apathy toward player safety. Finally, it's some WJC excitement—from Zeev Buium's blend of skill and physicality, the opportunity awaiting Frank Nazar, and whether Jacob Fowler or Trey Augustine is the Americans' best choice in net.

Hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss Dylan Larkin's scary injury against the Senators, then the undermanned Red Wings struggles in the ensuing week of hockey. They also discuss Jonatan Berggren's potential and Red Wing cameo, as well as Joe Veleno's growth this season. Finally, they wrap the show with a World Junior look-ahead, focused on Team USA's training camp in Plymouth.

On this episode of The Silky Mitten State, Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss the week that was in Detroit Red Wings hockey, a budding goalie controversy between Ville Husso and Alex Lyon, Patrick Kane's Red Wing debut, then take a quick temperature check on some NCAA hockey from around the state.

Hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss the Red Wings' three-game win streak following the team's disappointing Sweden trip, focusing on the recent wins over Boston and Minnesota. Then, the conversation drifts into a poor effort in New York against the Rangers and Detroit's need to find more consistency to continue its playoff push. Next, it's flowers for David Perron on the occasion of his 300th NHL goal. Finally, the show wraps with the signing of Patrick Kane, its complexities, and his potential fit.

Hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss a disappointing end to the Red Wings' Swedish road trip, Detroit's most complete performance of the season against New Jersey, whether Alex Lyon might have played his way into being the Red Wings' starter. Then, the show wraps with a quick conversation about plans for a potential World Cup of Hockey, before closing by talking about Michigan's struggles through the early stages of the season and Michigan State's statement sweep over Wisconsin.

Hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton talk through the week that was for the Detroit Red Wings, reviewing a 5-4 home win over the Blue Jackets and diving into a 5-4 OT loss to Ottawa from Sweden. We discuss the need for improvement from Detroit in the defensive zone, if the team wants to get serious about the playoffs, which segues into a discussion of Simon Edvinsson and the state of the Red Wings' prospect fuel. Finally, we close the show with a quick NCAA round-up, including our preliminary thoughts on a disturbing story out of Michigan Tech.

Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss a frustrating week of Red Wings hockey, which began with a bang against the Bruins and ended with a whimper against Montreal. After reviewing the games, we rate our confidence in Detroit's goaltending, consider Robby Fabbri's role moving forward, and evaluate the bottom half of the Red Wings' defensive depth chart. To wrap the show, it's a whiparound of Michigan's NCAA teams. We check in with Michigan Tech and Western, before taking stock of mixed early season results from MSU & U of M.

Cohosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton dive into a Red Wings-centric show this week. It starts with a review of a 1-2-0 week of hockey, diving into the results from Detroit's recent games with the Bruins, Islanders, and Panthers. Then, it's a zoom out to consider some glows and grows from the Red Wings' first eleven games. Finally, we wrap talking about Shane Pinto's suspension, and the abundance of Michigan connections atop the NHL's scoring leaderboard (as well as the absence of Minnesotans and Canadians).

Hosts Connor Earegood and Sam Stockton discuss a week of regression of the Detroit Red Wings and take stock of Michigan's two B1G hockey teams' early season results