Sharp Shooters

A team focused end of szn look at the Colorado Avalanche. A look at the team’s ability to finish a top the Central Division in the regular szn and the 1st round playoff exit to Seattle. Why Colorado failed to repeat and a look at the off szn ahead for the team.   Recorded and Edited: May 11th, 12nd, 2023. Show Intro/Extro Music: excerpts of “Acid Trash” performed by MAP from the “Grant Ave.” EP ©2...

A recap of Joe Pavelski’s epic return to play in Game 1 of the Central Division 2nd round series between Dallas and Seattle. A series recap and analysis of how Dallas advances in 6 games over Central Division Minnesota. A series recap and analysis of how Seattle upset the Defending Stanley Cup and Central Division winner Colorado in 7 games. A full series preview of keys to the Dallas vs. Seattle...

St. Louis' starter played 50+ regular szn games for the first time in his career. He is not the workhorse #1 he is paid to be. The importance of the back-up to St. Louis regular szn success in the Binnington era. Central Division team St. Louis misses the playoffs and goaltending and defence underperformance of a veteran group is explored. The 2019 Cup winning teams D-Grp to this year’s – a sl...

Central Division wildcard playoff hopefuls Winnipeg (originally relocated from Atlanta) face off vs. recent expansion team and Pacific Division and West Conference winning Vegas. A look as the teams meet for the first time since Vegas Western Conference Championship win in 2017-18 in Vegas first szn. Central Division and Defending Stanley Cup Champions Colorado (who originally relocated from Quebe...

Central Division and Defending Stanley Cup Champions Colorado (who originally relocated from Quebec City) begin their defence of the Cup vs. the NHL's newest expansion team Seattle in their first playoff appearance. A look how Colorado finish atop the Central Division. A preview of Colorado first round series vs. Seattle. Recorded and Edited: April 17, 2023. Show Intro/Extro Music: excerpts of...

Central Division teams Dallas (who originally relocated from Minnesota take on the 2.0 Minnesota (expansion) team for only the 2nd time in NHL History in the 2vs3 first round Stanley Cup Playoff match-up. This should be more of a rivalry than it is but this playoff series hopefully ignites it. A preview beyond just a look at Jason Robertson vs Kirill Kaprizov and the obvious network storylines - i...

3 games remain to determine who wins the Central Division Crown as Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota play their final hands to finish first. All 3 have clinched playoff spots and reached hundy point + szns. We pick up where we left off and catch up with the Central Division top three. Recorded and Edited: April 9th, 2023. Show Intro/Extro Music: excerpts of “Acid Trash” performed by MAP from the “Gr...

Patrick Kane’s pursuit of the US Born All-Time Points Leader will not be done while playing for only 1 team – Chicago. Chicago GM Kyle Davidson “candy-a**” mishandling of future 1st Ballot NHL Hall-of-Famer Kane’s forced departure. For Kane – you must retain. Retain salary or the past upon better option - retain the player. We look at the tank team on a timeline that goes from the All-Star break t...

Buyer vs Seller Central Division teams; Winnipeg and Nashville continue to battle for a Western Conference last wildcard playoff spot with Pacific Division Calgary. We look at Winnipeg struggles beginning with the last meeting vs Nashville. We catch up with when Nashville made up ground in the standings prior to the last head-to-head between the teams and look at how Nashville did after the teams...

A point separates Minnesota, Colorado, and Dallas for the division title. Its seeding szn time and we get you up to date on all 3 Central Division teams. We look at the remaining strength of schedule for each team. We look at Regulation Wins – the first tiebreaker for all the teams. Colorado has had the best record over the last 10GP. Coach Jared Bednar gets a contract extension. The 50G milestone...

A team focused look at Arizona from the all-star break to post trade deadline. Jakob Chychrun – the would-be Captain that was not and his time in Arizona. The trade that took forever, the backstory and trade return assessment. Arizona’s draft gifts because of Ghost – Shane Gostisbehere. Who even plays defence for Arizona – Troy Stecher; Dysin Mayo; and Cam Dineen depart as well at the trade deadli...

A team focused look at Winnipeg post trade deadline. A quiet trade deadline double-down by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was the wrong play. Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck’s prime years are being squandered and organizationally Winnipeg has no replacement in the system if Helle walks. PLD’s “Trouba 2.0” situation. The outdated closed hockey ops approach trickles to the player group. Winnipeg trades Nashv...

A team focused look at Central Division Stanley Cup defending Colorado post trade deadline. Colorado’s quiet trade deadline has more to do with last year’s all-in push then it does with this szns injuries. Both are the cost of winning a Stanley Cup. We look at the Cup years deadline, the off-szn moves prior to this year as a framework for what Colorado did at the trade deadline. Colorado’s vet goa...

A team focused look at Central Division first place Dallas post trade deadline. Dallas GM Jim Nill does more than nil in money in – money out trade deals. Evgenii Dadonov added from Montreal as Denis Gurianov departs. Max Domi added from Chicago as buried in AHL goaltender Anton Khudobin moves on. We look at the teams 5-2-1 stretch of play since our last Dallas look. Statement game over Colorado a...

A team focused look at Minnesota post trade deadline. MN GM Bill Guerin plays banker, pivots to play trade deadline buyer. A look at Guerin’s role as middle-man in 2 – 3 team trade deals. The acquisitions of Marcus Johansson; Gustav Nyquist; Oscar Sundqvist and John Klingberg. Trading Jordan Greenway to Buffalo. A look at MN’s current 8-1-2 stretch of play and the goaltending that is back stopping...

A team focused look at Nashville. Nashville GM David Poile’s pipe bomb announcement of retiring. Nashville competitive rebuild succession in choosing Barry Trotz as the new GM. Nashville starts selling by trading players – Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Jeannot, Mattias Ekholm and Mikael Granlund. Nashville gets a draft capital haul as well as defencemen Cale Foote and Tyson Barrie. RFA RHD Dante Fabbr...

A team focus look at the Blues on flipping pick assets, coaches flipping off on players, who also took to flipping back. St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong unloading of UFA’s continues to build draft capital is the first pivot. The departure of the “Lettered” leadership core. St. Louis hopes of flipping picks to build around a younger near prime aged player core. St. Louis coach Craig Berube and a lack o...

The Central Division top three – Dallas, Winnipeg, and Colorado as the trade deadline approaches. None of the teams have made a significant addition. What are the teams looking to add and what do they have available to do it with. Some highlights of topics covered: Dallas struggles to win but remains first in the division. What a money-in/money-out deal looks like and we talk about potentially mov...

The Central Division triplex of Minnesota, Nashville and St. Louis have very little in common as the trade deadline looms. If the teams where houses you buy – we tell you what repairs are needed but what can also be afforded for each. Minnesota belonged with the last podcast Top3 as they are above the playoff cut-off going into Monday’s games in progress. The understudy Fleury Phenoemen. Unpacking...

We avoid talk of the NHL All-Star Weekend as we foray into the foursome it’s foreseeable that any of Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado and Minnesota could win the Central Division and Western Conference regular szn crown. Why there isn’t a front-runner to forecast as the favorite and we didn’t record this at a Four Szns for that matter in advance of the nearing NHL trade deadline and how added player pie...

After similar stretches Nashville and St. Louis take different roads at the All-Star break. Why catching Pacific division teams for the final Western Conference wild card spot might be the only path for Nashville to make it to the playoffs. Why the goaltending Nashville has makes it possible to be a playoff team and why St. Louis’ not having it is why they stay outside looking in. The importance o...

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says no one tanks. In this All-Star Breaking Bad for Bedard edition – we look at the Central Division tank-worthy twosome Arizona and Chicago up to the All-Star break. The Pacific division comparatives. based on standings headed into January 30th NHL schedule. Recorded and Edited: January 29, 2023. Show Intro/Extro Music: excerpts of “Acid Trash” performed by MAP from...

We catch up with now 3rd in the Central Division Colorado and the current 6 game win streak. A proper Cale Makar comparable if you can find one and low Altitude attitude. Jared Bednar's milestone Colorado win. A fair trade with San Jose. Nieto returns. The talk of the NHL's best goalie tandem.  The Pacific division comparatives. based on standings headed into January 26th NHL schedule. Record...

Why are there no elite teams in the Central Division this year or Western Conference. At 649PT% Dallas leading the Western Conference is underwhelming compared to recent years final PT% totals. With Dallas, Winnipeg and Minnesota over 600PT% above the playoff cutoff, do any of them push the pace car to a Conference title? Should they worry about Colorado in the rear-view mirror? Dallas continues t...

We continue the idea from Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan for improving the NHL All-Star game format of using a 3-on-3 mini team All-Star tourney to expand what players would merit inclusion. It isn't a perfect idea. It is way better than what the NHL is doing right now. We also tell you the one player named from the division teams so far. Also - St. Louis and Nashville close the wildcard pla...