Rinkside with Aarif Deen

It seems like nothing can stop the Avalanche right now. JJ and Aarif break down the recent hurdles involving COVID, injuries, vaccinations, goalie debuts and the Avs winning despite all of it. The guys then talk Colorado's stretch towards the playoffs, the penalty kill struggles and more before answering questions from Twitter. All that and more on this edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to...

Devan Dubnyk is an Av. As funny as that sounds. And Patrick Nemeth has returned. Also the Avs just swept the Ducks and have 60 points and lead the NHL. Aarif and JJ break it all down on this edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteAarif

The 15-game point streak comes to an end with a stinker in Minnesota. Aarif and JJ discuss what went wrong in the second game of the series. The guys also break down Jacob MacDonald's two-game suspension and Colorado's efforts moving forward as it awaits the playoffs. With the Ducks on tap, Aarif goes on a tangent about his dream scenario trade acquisition heading into Monday's trade deadline. All...

The Avalanche are 12-0-2 in their last 14 games. They're now comfortably in first place and fans are back at Ball Arena. Basically, everything is great. Aarif and JJ open the show with just how different and better everything feels with a real crowd. The guys also discuss the sweep against St. Louis, the nine-goal onslaught against Arizona and the MacKinnon/Garland fiasco before looking ahead to t...

Avalanche fans are returning to Ball Arena and we're excited to talk about it. JJ and Aarif talk Colorado's 9-0-2 run, their dominance in recent weeks, depth scoring, Mikko Rantanen and Philipp Grubauer. The guys also talk team toughness and what the Avs need upfront as they prepare for the playoffs. Also, the return of our sponsor, Draft Kings! America's No. 1 Sportsbook App. All that and more on...

The Avalanche lost in a shootout but Jonas Johansson, Colorado's latest goalie project, was not terrible. The guys discuss why Johansson's performance was uniquely important for the Avs. Philipp Grubauer has been on a tear and the Avs destroyed Minnesota in goals. But also in shots. Or so we think. Maybe. Let's talk Michael Russo and his attack on Colorado's off-ice officials. Speaking of official...

Hunter Miska's recent performance, or lack thereof, is the hot topic around town. While Philipp Grubauer continues to provide Vezina-level goaltending, the Avs lack a backup that could give their starter support. JJ and Aarif break down the Miska ordeal, Joe Sakic's options in the market as he continues his search for a goalie and Colorado's four-game winning streak. The team looks great and the g...

March 11, 2020: The day it all began. It's been one year since the last Avalanche game with fans at what was then called the Pepsi Center. Aarif and JJ recall that surreal day and their experiences in the arena. The guys also discuss how much has changed since the COVID pandemic both on and off the ice. NHL on ESPN is back! How excited are you? Let's talk about it. The guys then break down the two...

The guys address Aarif's Twitter mishap Friday to kick off the show before breaking down what has been a disappointing start to the Avalanche's nine-game homestand. JJ and Aarif float some trade ideas for Joe Sakic to address the goalie situation and give a shout-out to big ol' Valeri Nichushkin. The guys also discuss what it would take to get fans back into Ball Arena and try to figure out what's...

The Avalanche completed its first road sweep of the season and the guys are here to discuss it. JJ and Aarif talk about a snakebitten offense in the midst of a breakout, a structured defense, and a backup goalie that won his first career game. The guys then look back on the Lake Tahoe fiasco before looking ahead to the Sharks series this week. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteA...

The Avalanche and Golden Knights are ready to take their talents to... Lake Tahoe. JJ and Aarif get into another (surprise, surprise) heated discussion about the entertainment value of this Outdoor Game. The guys then breakdown the recent two-game road-trip in Vegas and preview what's going to be an extremely overwhelming Avs schedule that begins tomorrow and stretches into April. All that and mor...

The Avalanche are back on the ice and preparing for four straight games against the Vegas Golden Knights. Well, maybe. Assuming there are no more postponements, Colorado is set to resume action Sunday without Gabriel Landeskog, Tyson Jost or Sam Girard but Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are returning. JJ and Aarif discuss Colorado's even more accelerated schedule before...

Come for your regularly-scheduled podcast, and stay for the glorious debate! Aarif and JJ go head-to-head for an impromptu debate on the Avalanche’s excitement through 11 games of the season. The guys argue if the team has the spark fans have been yearning for and if their play aligns with this season’s expectations. But before that, the guys discuss the postponement of Thursday’s game between the...

JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen recap the Avalanche's seven-goal outburst over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. The guys talk about the awakening of the depth-scoring, the goalie situation, and Mikko Rantanen's goal-scoring streak. A final bow of the California road trip was also in order. And speaking of Bo, how about young Bo Byram earning a top-four spot? All that and more on this edition of Hockey Moun...

JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen break down the LA Kings series split and preview the two games in Anaheim that start Friday. The guys talk about the quick turnaround the Avalanche face with a back to back and dive into injuries, consistency, depth and the Ian Cole trade on this edition of Hockey Mountain High. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteAarif

JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen break down the Avalanche's opening two games against the St. Louis Blues. The guys discuss consistency, power play, and the debuts for Brandon Saad and Devon Toews. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteAarif

A cheerful JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen break down the first open practice of the season to kick off Hockey Mountain High's last offseason episode of the year. The guys then discuss the delightful exchange between Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Andre Burakovsky on Zoom before diving into Colorado's full lineup heading into opening night. They also talk Joe Sakic, who met with media Tuesday and the Avalan...

Training camp has begun! We think. Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen share their thoughts on the lack of video coverage from the Avalanche during this unprecedented training camp without media access. The guys share their feelings about media coverage in the future and how the Avs are dropping the ball on exposure for a Stanley Cup contending team. The guys then talk training camp line combinations, &...

Hockey Mountain High hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen are joined by NHL Insider Chris Johnston of Sportsnet to wrap up the year that was in 2020. The guys kick off the show with the Zdeno Chara news and how it relates to the unique offseason the NHL has had. CJ then talks about his experiences covering the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs in both bubble cities in empty arenas. The guys then talk 2021 and pr...

Hockey Mountain High comes to you hours after the NHL announces that the 2021 season is officially 'Game On.' Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen break down the realignment, 56-game division schedule, the playoff format and more on this exciting day in the hockey world. The guys then take a moment to remember former general manager and team president Pierre Lacroix, who passed away on Dec. 13 and talk a...

Hockey Mountain High comes to you amid the most recent NHL news that the league is pushing towards a Jan. 15 start date. Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen discuss the different options on the table for the shortened 2021 season. The guys then look back on the Patrick Roy deal on its 25th anniversary before taking listener questions from Reddit.

Hockey Mountain High breaks down the Avalanche's latest "win" after the release of the Quebec Nordiques-themed reverse retro jersey. Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen dive into the return to play re-negotiations that the owners have suddenly proposed before a segment on what the Avs are thankful for heading into American Thanksgiving.

Hockey Mountain High comes to you in the wake of the US election results. Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen address the "stick to sports" crowd before discussing how the election results will likely play a part in how, when and where the 2020-21 NHL season begins. The guys then talk about the upcoming World Juniors, Cale Makar's future contract and the Avalanche's third goalie situation.

After the announcement of Devon Toews' new four-year deal with the Avalanche, Hockey Mountain High breaks down how Jared Bednar could use his newest piece. Hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen discuss the blueline shuffle that Toews will cause both on the ice and with the expansion draft next year. The guys then break down the latest in the world of hockey jerseys before discussing controversies surround...

Following the announcement of his upcoming departure from Denver to cover the Seattle Kraken expansion team, The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark joins the show to discuss the move. Clark and hosts JJ Jerez and Aarif Deen break down how competitive the Kraken could be in 2021-22, as well as who the Avs could lose in the expansion draft. After two years on the Avalanche beat, Ryan then says his goodbyes to...