Empty The Benches

In this episode, Nick and Mac discuss the surprising trade of Quinn Hughes, the implications for both the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, and dive into a fun segment on the Mount Rushmore of offensive defensemen. They analyze recent trades, including the Skinner-Jari swap, and the Buffalo Sabres' decision to fire GM Kevyn Adams. The conversation shifts to the US Women's National Team's impre...

In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Mackane Vogel dive into a variety of hockey topics, including humorous discussions about potential EBUG candidates, the latest trade rumors surrounding Quinn Hughes, the Colorado Avalanche's impressive performance, and a controversial hit by Jacob Trouba on Ryan Leonard. They also recap the week's games and engage in trivia, showcasing...

In this episode of Empty the Bench, Nick and Mac discuss their weekend adventures, including a snowy day filled with hockey and pizza. They dive into what NHL teams are thankful for this season, touching on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and San Jose Sharks. The conversation shifts to concerns about the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament, particularly regarding the ice surface size....

In this episode, Nick and Mac discuss Mac's recent trip to Berlin, highlighting the unique hockey culture and experiences he had. They delve into Thanksgiving food preferences, share insights on NHL player performances, and speculate on the upcoming Olympic roster. The conversation also touches on the current state of the Canucks and the Capitals, along with a fun trivia segment about the Caps' al...

In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Nick Bowins engage in a lively discussion covering a range of topics from fantasy hockey matchups to the Mount Rushmore of favorite players NOT on their favorite teams. They analyze Adrian Kempe's recent contract extension, Miko Rantanen's ejection, and the surprising injuries affecting NHL teams. The conversation shifts to the concerns...

On this episode of Empty the Benches, host Nick Mannella and guest host Nick Bowins discuss a variety of hockey topics, including the recent Hall of Fame inductees, the exciting college hockey matchups, goaltending concerns in the NHL, a review of Canada's Olympic jerseys, and the surprising performance of the Anaheim Ducks this season. The conversation is lively and insightful, providing listener...

Nick and Mac are back for another episode! They kick things off with the return of the question of the day, introduce a new segment called Empty The Mailbox, and dive into the recent struggles of the Washington Capitals in the Weekly ReCap. During the episode they also touch on the dynamic duos in Colorado and New Jersey, the 2027 stadium series location, and the road struggles of the Florida Pant...

In this episode of Empty the Benches, hosts Nick Mannella and Mackane Vogel recount their recent adventures in Milwaukee and Chicago, including attending a Blackhawks game and hosting an event at their favorite bar, Elwoods. They share humorous anecdotes about meeting colorful characters and discuss the challenges of creating engaging trivia questions for their event. The episode also delves into...

In this episode, Nick and Mac discuss the excitement surrounding their upcoming event at Elwoods, the NHL game schedule, and predictions for various teams. They delve into the Capitals' recent games, the promising future of the Canadiens, and the struggles of the Rangers and Sabres. The conversation also touches on surprising performances in the NHL and wraps up with a focus on their event at Elwo...

In this episode, Nick and Mac dive into the excitement of the NHL season, discussing the return of hockey, fantasy drafts, and significant player contracts. They analyze goaltending performances and the Washington Capitals' rocky start. The conversation shifts to team predictions and culminates in a detailed review of the new NHL jerseys, providing grades and insights on each team's design choices...

In this episode, Nick and Mac from Empty the Benches dive into a comprehensive preview of the Metropolitan Division in the NHL. Joined by Washington Capitals senior writer Mike Vogel, they discuss each team's strengths, weaknesses, and expectations for the upcoming season. From the formidable Carolina Hurricanes to the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers, the conversation covers key player movements, h...

In this episode, Nick and Mac provide a comprehensive preview of the NHL's Atlantic Division, discussing each team's prospects for the upcoming season. They cover key injuries, player performances, and the overall competitiveness of the division. The conversation highlights the Boston Bruins' transitional phase, the Buffalo Sabres' ongoing struggles, the Detroit Red Wings' cautious optimism, the F...

In this episode Nick, Mac, and Anders preview the Pacific Division of the NHL, discussing each team's offseason moves, key players, and expectations for the upcoming season. They share personal updates, analyze the Anaheim Ducks' trades, the Calgary Flames' quiet offseason, the Edmonton Oilers' pressure to win, the Los Angeles Kings' building momentum, the San Jose Sharks' young roster, the Seattl...

In this episode, Nick and Mac dive into the NHL Central Division, discussing each team's prospects for the upcoming season. They share personal anecdotes, introduce a new segment called 'Max Misfortune,' and analyze the Chicago Blackhawks' rebuilding phase, the Colorado Avalanche's playoff potential, the Dallas Stars' need to prove themselves, the Minnesota Wild's playoff hopes, the Nashville Pred...

We're back!! Nick and Mac get you caught up on the recent flurry of NHL news from the past few weeks. They dive into the Caps' and Red Wings' new alternate sweaters, the Rangers' new captain, and the bold statement by one of Canada's most accomplished defensemen.   Music: Coasting Mostly - Barely Civil Hearing Things - Poggioli   Legal:   DraftKings Gambling problem? Call 1-800-gambler or in West...

  Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empty-betters/id1478649041   Follow us on:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emptybetters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/emptybetters YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOKCts4xSGRon6AG5FCTkPw   TikTok: h...

  Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empty-betters/id1478649041   Follow us on:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emptybetters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/emptybetters YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOKCts4xSGRon6AG5FCTkPw   TikTok: h...

Stanley Cup Final Preview!! The boys get you set for a thrilling rematch of last year’s Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers. They also dive into the Pete DeBoer comments on his goaltender, Rod and Paul in the handshake line, and debate potential Conn Smythe winners.   Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch...

Oh boy, it happened again. The boys break down the conclusion of round 2, diving into the Stars OT winner over the Jets and the Leafs game 7 collapse to the Panthers. They also argue about throwing your jersey on the ice, discuss what the Leafs need to change, and preview the conference final matchups.   Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lV...

The boys get you caught up on the latest second round storylines. They discuss the Hurricane’s dominance over the Caps, the Stars rolling over the Jets, and the Oilers pushing Vegas to the brink. They also give their predictions for a pivotal game 5 between the Panthers and Leafs.    Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&amp...

The boys break down the first handful of games from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They discuss the Capitals’ big game 2 win over the Hurricanes, the Oilers stealing both games in Vegas, and another dominant performance by Mikko Rantanen. Link to full podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcasts: http...

The boys wrap up the two incredible game 7’s that finished off the first round. They dive into Mikko Rantanen’s revenge game, Cole Perfetti and Adam Lowry’s heroics, and debate where each series was won and lost. They also preview the second round matchups featuring: Panthers vs. Leafs Hurricanes vs. Capitals Jets vs. Stars Oilers vs. Golden Knights   Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open....

The boys get you caught up on all the series closeouts and preview the remaining games left in the first round. They dive into how Florida grounded Tampa Bay, how Carolina blew away Jersey, how the Leafs handled Ottawa, and how Washington ran over Montreal. They also discuss the woeful recent offseasons of the LA Kings and the Minnesota Wild.    Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotif...

The boys get you caught up on Tom Wilson’s massive hit, a crazy ending to the Lightning/Panthers game, and discuss goaltending for each team in the playoffs. They also dissect the home wins for the St. Louis Blues, and the recent collapses of the LA Kings.    Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcas...

The boys get you caught up on Gabe Landeskog’s return, Toronto’s overtime magic, and Minnesota’s big win at home. They also discuss the Blues statement win over the Jets and the Lightning’s struggles continuing against the Panthers.    Link to full podcast:   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15W69vvlYJfFqjeIoGgDj9?si=rw8lVl63QJObfhgPHU-cMQ&dl_branch=1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.app...