Podcasts about Buffalo Sabres

Zach Jones and Derek Kramer discuss the severe NBA punishments handed down to the Los Angeles Clippers following an investigation into Kawhi Leonard's signing. They also contrast the franchise's lack of success with the recent resurgence of the Buffalo Sabres and reflect on the emotional impact of the Sabres' playoff run.

Jeremy, Joe Cali, Nate, and Owen Parker examine the potential for a Buffalo Sabres trade for Connor Hellebuyck and the factors contributing to his rift with Winnipeg. They transition into NFL award predictions and a debate regarding the physics of a drinking straw. 01:12 - Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 06:10 - NFL MVP Predictions 15:21 - Goalies And Pressure 19:14 - The Straw Hole Debate 24:36 - Stanley Cup vs Olympics

Marty Biron joins Jeremy and Nate to discuss the evolving situation between Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. They evaluate the Buffalo Sabres' playoff potential and debate if acquiring a Vezina-caliber goalie is the final piece of the puzzle for a deep postseason run. The conversation also touches on the workout series featuring Dion Dawkins and Miles Garrett. 01:00 - Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 03:51 - NHL Holdout Dynamics 08:07 - Sabres Roster Breakdown 15:11 - Sabres Trade History 23:33 - Dawkins and Garrett

Gene takes a deeper look at the LA Clippers breaking news. Kawhi Leonard releases a statement & everyone reacts. How does this relate to the LA Dodgers in the MLB? Gene explains. Plus the NHL season is closer than we think.

Mike McIntyre joins Jeremy and Nate to examine the deteriorating relationship between Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets. They discuss the potential for a trade to the Buffalo Sabres and the political factors complicating Hellebuyck's legacy in Canada. The discussion highlights the difficult position of GM Kevin Cheveldayoff as he manages the small-market franchise's future. 01:00 - Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 02:14 - Mike McIntyre Interview 04:20 - Olympic Fallout Impact 07:53 - Potential Trade Destinations 14:52 - Small Market Challenges

Jeremy and guest Chad DeDomenicis dive into the resurfacing trade rumors surrounding Connor Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets' standoff. They evaluate how the Buffalo Sabres' goaltending situation impacts their playoff potential and discuss the potential cost of a blockbuster deal. 01:00 - Connor Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 06:15 - Evaluating Sabres Roster Stability 12:21 - Goalie Voodoo and Value

WGR brings you some of the best interviews this week from Jeremy & Joe, The Extra Point, and Schopp & Bulldog. Hear from Sal Capaccio, Paul Hamilton, Joe Marino, and Carl Jones!

WGR brings you some of the best interviews this week from Jeremy & Joe, The Extra Point, and Schopp & Bulldog. Hear from Sal Capaccio, Paul Hamilton, Joe Marino, and Carl Jones!

WGR brings you some of the best interviews this week from Jeremy & Joe, The Extra Point, and Schopp & Bulldog. Hear from Sal Capaccio, Paul Hamilton, Joe Marino, and Carl Jones!

WGR brings you some of the best interviews this week from Jeremy & Joe, The Extra Point, and Schopp & Bulldog. Hear from Sal Capaccio, Paul Hamilton, Joe Marino, and Carl Jones!

Paul Hamilton and Nate Geary analyze the Buffalo Bills' preseason finale, focusing on standout players like Skylar Bell and the backup quarterback battle involving Shane Buechele. They also discuss trade rumors surrounding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and the potential impact on the Buffalo Sabres' roster. 02:25 - Stadium Wind Resistance 04:08 - Skylar Bell's Performance 07:46 - Bills Running Back Depth 11:11 - Backup Quarterback Competition 18:24 - Hellebuyck Trade Rumors

Jeremy and Joe react to being roasted in Drew Magary's annual roast of NFL teams and evaluate early fan impressions of the Bills' new stadium. They also engage in an in-depth debate regarding a potential Buffalo Sabres trade for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck following his public trade request. 01:07 - Roasted by Drew Magary 03:50 - Bills Preseason Takeaways 06:26 - Stadium Experience Feedback 11:08 - Hellebuyck Trade Discussion 20:33 - Sabres Goaltending Outlook

Jeremy and Joe analyze Connor Hellebuyck's trade request and how it impacts the Buffalo Sabres' search for a star goaltender. They also break down Stephen Ruiz's latest NFL quarterback tiers and debate the merits of various fantasy football formats. 02:04 - Stadium Snacks and Weird Foods 05:21 - Best Ball Fantasy Strategies 08:21 - Preseason Roster Spot Incentives 11:52 - Ruiz's NFL Quarterback Tiers 15:15 - Hellebuyck Sabres Trade Rumors

The Bulldog reacts to Connor Hellebuyck's public trade request from the Winnipeg Jets and its implications for the Buffalo Sabres. He analyzes potential trade packages involving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and top prospects while questioning the team's overall offseason progress.

The Bulldog examines reports that Connor Hellebuyck is open to a trade to the Buffalo Sabres and explores how his agent's public statements impact trade leverage. They hear from fans regarding the potential inclusion of top prospects like Jiri Kulich or Noah Ostlund in a deal for the star goaltender. 01:01 - Hellebuyck To Buffalo Rumors 04:50 - Potential Trade Competition 07:33 - Assets For Hellebuyck Deal 11:38 - Sabres Forward Depth Concerns

Paul Hamilton gives a live report on windy conditions at Highmark Stadium before analyzing Connor Hellebuyck's trade request and its impact on the Sabres. They discuss potential trade packages involving prospects like Noah Ostlund and evaluate whether the team should target a player like Dylan Larkin to signal they are ready to contend.

Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase are joined by Jerry Ostrowski to evaluate Alec Anderson winning the starting left guard spot and analyze the overall depth of the Bills' offensive and defensive lines. They also debate the impact of the Buffalo Sabres' offseason roster changes and whether the fan base is feeling fragile heading into a pivotal season. 02:42 - Jerry Ostrowski Interview 07:18 - Bills Offensive Line Depth 11:37 - Bills Defensive Line Analysis 18:44 - Back-To-School Shopping Nostalgia 30:38 - Sabres Offseason Analysis 37:40 - Fragility Of Sabres Fandom

Full 1 Hour Show: An abbreviated episode today in The Sports Bar. Gene zeros in on the Bills & Steelers preseason finale tonight at Highmark stadium. Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has officially made his trade request public. Audacy sports betting insider PJ Glasser joins the show to analyze & share his best bets in college football. Gene & Tim wrap things up in last call with a baseball simulator discussion.

The Bills & Steelers conclude their pre-season tonight at Highmark stadium. Who will we see play? Winnipeg Jets Goalie Connor Hellebuyck has officially requested a trade. Should the Buffalo Sabres pursue him? Plus Sean McDermott & Nathan Peterman news.

3:00PM - Mike Schopp and The Bulldog discuss whether Sabres fans could be feeling fragile about their attention with the team. The guys agree that they will need a good start to keep the cities attention.

3:30PM - Mike Schopp and The Bulldog continue discussing the Sabres, analyzing their offseason as a whole. They discuss the big departures and whether they should have traded the 4th overall pick.

Jeremy and Joe recount a recent work golf outing where Sal Capaccio believed he had hit his first career hole-in-one. They debate whether Jeremy was right to immediately question the shot or if he should have let the celebration continue. They also touch on the challenges of golfing as a new father and provide updates on the Buffalo Sabres selling out season tickets. 01:09 - Golf Skills and Fatherhood 05:20 - Sal's Near Hole-in-One 12:27 - Breaking Bad Golf News 20:24 - Reliving the Celebration 23:33 - Valid Hole-in-One Scenarios

Brian Koziel analyzes the Buffalo Sabres' season ticket sellout and whether their offseason moves have met the high expectations of the fan base. They also dive into the new match play format for the PGA Tour Championship and discuss the recent reveal of NFL alternative jerseys. 02:06 - Brian Koziel Joins 03:30 - Hellebuyck Trade Rumors 04:55 - Zach Benson Rankings 08:07 - PGA Match Play Format 18:29 - NFL Alternative Jerseys

Jeremy and Joe break down the new NHL rule requiring emergency backup goalies to wear double zero, a number famously associated with Marty Biron. They also discuss an internal office vote regarding new flooring and debate the design of upcoming Buffalo Sabres merchandise, specifically salt and pepper shakers. The conversation shifts to a critique of NHL jersey designs and expectations for future alternate uniforms. 01:22 - NHL E-Bug Rule Update 03:15 - Office Flooring Vote 06:04 - Sabres Thanksgiving Merchandise 09:12 - NHL Alternate Jersey Critique

In this episode, the guys discuss the Buffalo Sabres for the first time since early July! They touch on some news that has happened over the past month, their feelings about the roster/season at this point in time, Zach Benson's weird U23 ranking, and more! (0:00) Intro(0:32) Hockey is approaching(2:32) Patrick Kane chooses Chicago(9:27) Turdburger vs Nickel City Jerseys(16:05) Big expectations for this year?(19:07) Become a TSR Patron!(24:45) Peyton Krebs Re-Signed(36:22) Are satisfied with the Sabres offseason?(1:01:42) Zach Benson's U23 Ranking(1:13:31) New Sabres jersey coming(1:24:07) Christian's Cafeteria: Bills Stadium Edition(1:31:07) Closing

00:00-15:00: ML says the bullseye is on the back of the Buffalo Sabres this coming season. Thanks to CH Insurance and Batavia Downs Gaming and Western OTB. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brian Koziol joins Schopp to evaluate the PGA Tour's playoff format and the massive financial purse of the Tour Championship. They compare the prestige of major titles against the FedEx Cup while exploring the mental hurdles of amateur golf. The conversation also covers Scottie Scheffler's dominance and expectations for the upcoming Buffalo Sabres season.

They examine the Chicago Bears' offensive outlook and the impact of the DJ Moore trade on Caleb Williams' development. Lauren Cox provides insight into the NFC North competition and the expectations for breakout players like Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland. The segment concludes with a discussion on Buffalo Sabres uniform rumors and a reaction to Zach Benson's controversial prospect ranking. 01:20 - Bears Offense Analysis 10:12 - Lauren Cox Interview 15:14 - Chicago's Young Weapons 20:33 - NFC North Outlook 24:26 - Sabres Uniform Rumors 28:54 - Zach Benson Rankings

The second installment of the Summer Coolers brings the Atlantic Division into focus.2025-26 saw the rise of the Buffalo Sabres and the fall of both the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. To say there has been change among this group of eight teams would be an understatement but, will change actually result in positive movement?IN THIS EPISODE:[02:47] - Buffalo Sabres[09:44] - Tampa Bay Lightning[16:49] - Montreal Canadiens[22:22] - Boston Bruins[30:32] - Ottawa Senators[36:39] - Detroit Red Wings[43:44] - Florida Panthers[49:40] - Toronto Maple LeafsX: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparoundNeil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeilVic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/#NHLWraparound #NHLWraparound.com #ShortShifts #NYCentric #CelebritySeries #HallofFameEdition #StanleyCupdate #SummerCoolers #Smith'sPix #NeilSmith #VicMorren #NHL #BZZR #AnaheimDucks #BostonBruins #BuffaloSabres #CalgaryFlames #CarolinaHurricanes #ChicagoBlackhawks #ColoradoAvalanche #ColumbusBlueJackets #DallasStars #DetroitRedWings #EdmontonOilers #FloridaPanthers #LosAngelesKings #MinnesotaWild #MontrealCanadiens #NashvillePredators #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #NewYorkRangers #OttawaSenators #PhiladelphiaFlyers #PittsburghPenguins #StLouisBlues #SanJoseSharks #SeattleKraken #TampaBayLightning #TorontoMapleLeafs #UtahMammoth #VancouverCanucks #VegasGoldenKnights #WashingtonCapitals #WinnipegJets

Paul Hamilton joins Mike Schopp and discusses the likelihood of the Buffalo Sabres roster remaining unchanged as training camp nears, specifically addressing rumors involving Kirill Marchenko and Connor Hellebuyck.

Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase discuss the transition into football season, highlighting the Buffalo Bills' preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers. They examine the Buffalo Sabres' upcoming theme nights and spark a debate over the appropriateness of raising division championship banners. The conversation wraps up with a nostalgic look at former Panthers players and their connections to Buffalo. 01:48 - Preseason Football Preparation 02:10 - Parenting During Football 04:13 - Sabres Giveaway Debate 09:49 - Division Banner Controversy 13:49 - Remembering Former Panthers

  Hallo Hockeyfreunde, welche Traditionen machen die NHL so besonders? In dieser Folge nehmen wir euch mit auf eine Reise durch die gesamte Liga und sprechen über die einzigartigen Rituale der Teams und ihrer Fans. Von den legendären Octopus-Würfen in Detroit über den Ratten in Florida, den Storm Surge der Carolina Hurricanes bis hin zu den zahlreichen Fangesängen, Torhupen und besonderen Playoff-Bräuchen – wir schauen uns an, was jedes NHL-Team einzigartig macht. Außerdem sprechen wir darüber, wie diese Traditionen entstanden sind, welche Geschichten dahinterstecken und warum sie für Spieler und Fans bis heute eine so große Bedeutung haben. Eine Folge für alle NHL-Fans – egal ob ... Dieser Podcast wird vermarktet von der Podcastbude.www.podcastbu.de - Full-Service-Podcast-Agentur - Konzeption, Produktion, Vermarktung, Distribution und Hosting.Du möchtest deinen Podcast auch kostenlos hosten und damit Geld verdienen?Dann schaue auf www.kostenlos-hosten.de und informiere dich.Dort erhältst du alle Informationen zu unseren kostenlosen Podcast-Hosting-Angeboten. kostenlos-hosten.de ist ein Produkt der Podcastbude.

  Hallo Hockeyfreunde, welche Traditionen machen die NHL so besonders? In dieser Folge nehmen wir euch mit auf eine Reise durch die gesamte Liga und sprechen über die einzigartigen Rituale der Teams und ihrer Fans. Von den legendären Octopus-Würfen in Detroit über den Ratten in Florida, den Storm Surge der Carolina Hurricanes bis hin zu den zahlreichen Fangesängen, Torhupen und besonderen Playoff-Bräuchen – wir schauen uns an, was jedes NHL-Team einzigartig macht. Außerdem sprechen wir darüber, wie diese Traditionen entstanden sind, welche Geschichten dahinterstecken und warum sie für Spieler und Fans bis heute eine so große Bedeutung haben. Eine Folge für alle NHL-Fans – egal ob ... Dieser Podcast wird vermarktet von der Podcastbude.www.podcastbu.de - Full-Service-Podcast-Agentur - Konzeption, Produktion, Vermarktung, Distribution und Hosting.Du möchtest deinen Podcast auch kostenlos hosten und damit Geld verdienen?Dann schaue auf www.kostenlos-hosten.de und informiere dich.Dort erhältst du alle Informationen zu unseren kostenlosen Podcast-Hosting-Angeboten. kostenlos-hosten.de ist ein Produkt der Podcastbude.

Paul Hamilton provides a training camp update as the Buffalo Bills prepare for their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. He discusses the development of rookie receiver Keon Coleman, the veteran presence of David Moore, and Joe Brady's offensive philosophy. The conversation also shifts to Buffalo Sabres news, highlighting trade rumors involving Patrik Laine and exclusive gifts for season ticket members. 01:00 - Bills Preseason Prep 02:58 - Keon Coleman's Performance 08:39 - Joe Brady's Offensive Impact 10:19 - Sabres Trade Rumors 17:38 - Sabres Season Ticket Gifts

Thomas Vanek joins the show to talk his time with the Buffalo Sabres and more of your calls on the stadium

Tim Schneider shares his take of the day to begin hour 2, Gene shares shots & Joe Marino from the Locked On Bills podcasts is in The Sports Bar examining Bills camp battles & storylines. Joe speaks on CJ Gardner-Johnson, Cole Bishop, Jim Leonhard's defense, Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, camp battles, James Cook, expectations & more. Plus last call.

Full Hour 1 in The Sports Bar. Gene reveals his big announcement. Charlie Shuman from Lattimore Physical Therapy joins the show to break down the Bills injury questions at training camp. Plus where will Stefon Diggs play in 2026-2027?

Full Show Broadcast. Gene reveals The Sports Bar big announcement. The Sports Bar will return to afternoon drive (4pm-6pm week-days) starting on Monday August 10th, 2026. Gene welcomes in Dr. Charlie Shuman from Lattimore Physical Therapy joins the show to break down the Bills injury questions at training camp. Stefon Diggs lands in Washington. Timmy's take to start hour 2, PJ Glasser & his best bets. Plus the Bills alternate uniform schedule is out.

Gene passes along some sports tidbits: The Sabres are in the news for their logo. Plus was there actually crying in baseball? Gene has all of your MLB news & notes.

DJ Moore or Zay Flowers, Who Would You Rather Have? Tim tells you in his segment.

Full Hour 1 in The Sports Bar. We saw a camp scuffle at Fisher today, Gene shares all of the details. We also heard from Terrel Bernard & Khalil Shakir. Gene also has some other NFL stadium news. The Sabres & NHL are also in the news. Plus Gene loves talking baseball news. Timmy wraps up the hour with his take.

Gene is doing shots in The Sports Bar. What was the headline from camp today? Will we have MLB next season with the looming labor strikes? What will we be watching if not? Bijan Robinson got paid. This and more sports stories.

Full Show Broadcast.

Mike Schopp and the Bulldog evaluate James Cook's potential as a workhorse for the Buffalo Bills and express skepticism regarding Deshaun Watson's future in the NFL. They also debate the history of Buffalo Sabres jersey designs and reflect on the evolving landscape of the sports card collecting hobby after a visit to a massive convention in Chicago. 01:01 - James Cook Offensive Role 03:40 - Deshaun Watson Career Future 09:45 - Buffalo Sabres Jersey Discussion 13:30 - Sports Card Collecting Hobby

0:00 - Every year, the NFL releases a list of the Top 100 players as voted by the players. How many Broncos are on the list? What do their NFL peers think of them?16:43 - Kawhi Leonard is a minority owner of a...football team? Football club? Soccer team? Let's pick the correct verbiage here. Either way, this story WILL NOT GO AWAY. Adam Silver, how many more Pablo TorreBombs do you NEED?32:03 - Oh, by the way...the State of New York is suing Kalshi for $36 billion, claiming the company is running an illegal gambling operation. Yikes.Oh, by the way...the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't signed Baker Mayfield to a contract extension yet. Yesterday, Baker spoke about the situation and didn't mince words at all. Oh, by the way...the NHL is suing Smoky Hill High School because their logo looks exactly like a version of the Buffalo Sabres logo. Hey NHL...come on, man. Everyone does this. High schools copy logo from professional sports franchises all the time. 

Bulldog asks Owen and Zach about how distant the Sabres have gotten to feel as Bills training camp is upon us. They analyze why it feels like they've faded into the background to such a degree, and they discuss what news could happen in the near future.

Bulldog examines the Buffalo Bills' status as AFC favorites and questions whether fans have truly enjoyed the last five years of contention without a championship. He draws parallels to a past Buffalo Sabres season while taking calls from listeners who feel divided between optimism and emotional burnout.

Joe and company discuss the Buffalo Sabres' transition to the DAZN streaming platform and what it means for local fans. They also highlight DJ Moore's standout performance at training camp and his strong connection with Josh Allen. 01:00 - Leonhard On Ed Oliver 03:25 - Sabres Streaming Shift 09:54 - Moore Allen Connection

Spring Cleaning – Utah MammothThe Utah Mammoth took a major step forward during the 2025-26 season, qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in only their second year in Salt Lake City. Led by Clayton Keller and an exciting young core, Utah earned the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the franchise's progress, its impressive depth, the areas that still need improvement, and why Utah could soon challenge for a top-three position in its division.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00:00] The Mammoth qualify for the playoffs as the Western Conference's first Wild Card team. It marks the first postseason appearance for the Arizona-Utah franchise since the 2020 bubble and its first traditional playoff berth since 2012.[00:00:25] Utah gives a strong account of itself in the opening round before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Neil sees the Mammoth as a young, exciting team that has made meaningful progress.[00:00:45] Captain Clayton Keller leads a talented young foundation. After entering the season expected to challenge for a Wild Card berth, Utah does more than simply knock on the door and successfully earns a playoff position.[00:01:00] Vic looks back at the franchise's final season in Arizona, when the team remained competitive through roughly 45 games before news of the relocation contributed to an 0-12-2 collapse.[00:01:25] The move to Salt Lake City provides stability, but Utah remains inconsistent at home. The Mammoth post a .537 winning percentage at the Delta Center, tied for 22nd in the NHL.[00:01:50] Keller is joined by Dylan Guenther, Nick Schmaltz, and Logan Cooley as the centerpiece of the offense. Utah also strengthens the lineup by acquiring J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres.[00:02:10] The defense features Mikhail Sergachev, Ian Cole, John Marino, and Sean Durzi. Utah also signs Nate Schmidt following his Stanley Cup-winning season with the Florida Panthers.[00:02:30] Karel Vejmelka provides dependable goaltending, but Neil believes the Mammoth need another strong option in net with Vitek Vanecek approaching unrestricted free agency.[00:02:50] Statistically, Utah improves by only three standings points from the previous season. However, its goal differential jumps from minus-10 to plus-28, showing a much stronger overall team.[00:03:15] The Mammoth improve from 17th to 12th in goals against, although their goals-against average and save percentage remain similar. Their special teams rankings also decline despite the playoff qualification.[00:03:35] Utah makes an important late-season acquisition by adding defenseman MacKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames, further strengthening an already capable blue line.[00:03:55] Much of Utah's improvement comes from deeper in the lineup. Lawson Crouse matches a career high with 24 goals and finishes with a career-best plus-20 rating.[00:04:15] Michael Carcone scores 16 goals and records a career-high 31 points. Kailer Yamamoto becomes increasingly important late in the year and contributes five points in the playoff series against Vegas.[00:04:35] Kevin Stenlund, Alex Kerfoot, Jack McBain, and Brandon Tanev give André Tourigny four dependable forward lines. That depth allows Utah to remain competitive even when its stars are not producing.[00:04:55] Neil cautions that the Western Conference was weaker than the East, making the playoff path somewhat easier. Utah will need further improvement to guarantee another postseason appearance.[00:05:15] Compared with Nashville, Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim, St. Louis, and Winnipeg, Utah appears to maintain a small but consistent edge throughout the season.[00:05:35] The Mammoth avoid the extended winning and losing streaks that define many other teams. Their consistency from October through April becomes one of their greatest strengths.[00:05:55] General Manager Bill Armstrong enters the 2026 NHL Draft with seven selections, including two third-round picks and two fifth-round picks.[00:06:15] Utah does not own a second-round pick after including it in the MacKenzie Weegar trade. The organization also lacks a sixth-round selection following a previous pick swap with Nashville.[00:06:35] The Mammoth project to have approximately $5.5 million in cap space before the July 1 reset. Neil believes Salt Lake City has also become a more attractive destination for NHL players.[00:06:55] Unrestricted free agents include Alex Kerfoot, Kevin Stenlund, Kevin Rooney, Kailer Yamamoto, Ian Cole, Nick DeSimone, and Vitek Vanecek. Barrett Hayton is the team's lone restricted free agent.[00:07:15] Neil identifies Kerfoot as the unrestricted free agent Utah should prioritize retaining. Armstrong must then determine how to replace any veterans who leave during the offseason.[00:07:35] Compared with many teams featured in Spring Cleaning, Utah does not require a major overhaul. The roster already has a strong foundation and primarily needs additional depth and goaltending support.[00:07:55] Neil believes the Mammoth remain a few years away from becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. However, their playoff experience and young core could allow them to challenge for a top-three position in the division as soon as next season.

Spring Cleaning – Seattle KrakenThe Seattle Kraken entered the 2025-26 season with modest expectations and once again fell short of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite an encouraging start and stretches of strong play, extended losing streaks, inconsistent offense, and limited development from several young forwards kept Seattle stuck in the middle of the Western Conference. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine the front-office transition from Ron Francis to Jason Botterill, the organization's revolving door behind the bench, and why the Kraken may still be several years away from becoming a true contender.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00:00] The Kraken are eliminated from playoff contention on April 11 after missing the postseason for the fourth time in their first five NHL seasons. Seattle's only playoff appearance remains its surprising second-year run to Game 7 of the second round.[00:00:25] Lane Lambert completes his first season behind the Seattle bench after replacing Dan Bylsma. The Kraken entered the year hoping offseason additions could provide more stability and help the club move closer to a Wild Card position.[00:00:45] Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren, and Frederik Gaudreau were among the veterans added to strengthen the roster, although Marchment was later traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[00:01:00] Seattle begins the season with an encouraging 11-5-5 record. The goaltending tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord also performs better than expected and gives the team a chance to compete early.[00:01:20] The positive start quickly disappears during a damaging 1-9-1 stretch between mid-November and mid-December. Although Seattle responds with an 8-0-2 run, the club never finds lasting consistency.[00:01:40] The Kraken suffer at least three consecutive regulation losses on six separate occasions. Those repeated slides prevent the team from building momentum or remaining firmly involved in the playoff race.[00:02:00] Scoring remains one of Seattle's biggest weaknesses. The Kraken finish among the NHL's lowest-scoring teams and fail to receive the expected growth from several important forwards.[00:02:20] Jared McCann has not replicated the 40-goal season he produced in 2022-23. Matty Beniers appears to have settled into the range of a 50-point player rather than developing into a dominant first-line center.[00:02:40] Shane Wright also continues to fall short of expectations attached to his high draft position. His limited progress becomes another major concern for an organization that needs its young players to drive the next stage of growth.[00:03:00] The conversation turns to Seattle's leadership transition. Ron Francis, the franchise's original general manager, is departing after previously moving into the role of team president.[00:03:20] Jason Botterill now assumes complete control of hockey operations. Neil questions the organization's direction and notes that Botterill's previous tenure as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres produced mixed results.[00:03:45] Seattle's constant coaching changes also come under scrutiny. The franchise has moved from Dave Hakstol to Dan Bylsma and now Lane Lambert, yet no coach has been able to create sustained success.[00:04:10] The Kraken's lone breakthrough came during their second season, when they defeated the defending champion Colorado Avalanche before pushing the Dallas Stars to seven games in the second round.[00:04:30] Botterill enters the 2026 NHL Draft with eight selections, including two first-round picks. Seattle owns its original selection and the pick acquired from Tampa Bay in the Oliver Bjorkstrand trade.[00:04:50] The Kraken also hold multiple selections in the fourth and seventh rounds, giving the organization additional opportunities to strengthen a prospect system that must produce more impact players.[00:05:10] Seattle projects to have approximately $4.3 million in cap space. That provides some flexibility, but likely not enough to completely reshape the roster through free agency.[00:05:30] Unrestricted free agents include Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, trade-deadline acquisition Bobby McMann, and original Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.[00:05:55] Vic does not expect Seattle to be significantly better next season. The Kraken may not be a bottom-tier team, but the roster currently appears trapped between rebuilding and legitimate playoff contention.[00:06:20] Neil believes Seattle will remain around the Wild Card conversation, but major offseason work is required to move the organization higher in the standings.[00:06:40] The episode concludes with uncertainty surrounding the Kraken's immediate future. With a new decision-maker, another head coach, limited scoring, and several unresolved roster questions, Seattle must establish a clear organizational direction before it can become a consistent playoff team.