Rinkside with Aarif Deen

Aarif Deen and J.J. Jerez of Mile High Sports break down all the numbers behind Nathan MacKinnon's first 100-point season, including an Avs record he broke in the process. Also, a fun debate on the best duo in the NHL today. All that and more on this quick hit edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteAarif

Aarif Deen and J.J. Jerez are joined by Arda Öcal of ESPN to discuss several topics just two weeks from the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The guys get to know Arda before learning about his experiences through almost two seasons of ESPN taking over as NHL rightsholders. They also touch on ESPN's coverage of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, Nazem Kadri breaking barriers in hockey and ethnic diversi...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports break down the Avs’ crucial 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. They look at the Central Division standings, which has Colorado back in the driver’s seat for the top seed. They also discuss Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon inching closer to big milestones to close out the year before touching on a fun stat for Alexandar Georgiev. All that and more on...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back to break down the Avs’ tough 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The guys start the show with sound from Lars Eller, who was visibly upset postgame before breaking down Jared Bednar’s comments about passengers in the lineup. They also preview the upcoming matchup against Dallas and chat about the recent College free-agent signings of Jason Poulin...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are joined by Peter Baugh of The Athletic to break down an exciting Avs shootout victory in Arizona. They also check in on the Central Division standings and what it would take for Colorado to grab a hold of the top spot. The guys then discuss the recent returns to the lineup, including Darren Helm, Evan Rodrigues, Erik Johnson and Cale Makar before a...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back following the Avs' 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh. They discuss the urgency and desperation the Penguins played with and Colorado's inability to match it. They also touch on Sidney Crosby's incredible goal, the recent injury to Evan Rodrigues and the return of Darren Helm. The show ends with a conversation about Jared Bednar and his new three-year con...

J.J. Jerez is joined by Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports live from Detroit following the Avs' 5-1 victory over the Red Wings. The guys break down the team's perfect road trip, how Colorado is managing the physicality of recent games, and the Central Division lead being up for grabs. They also tough on Thursday's 5-4 victory in Ottawa and Lars Eller's recent scoring touch. The show ends with audio fr...

J.J. Jerez is joined by Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports live from Toronto following the Avs’ 2-1 shootout victory over the Maple Leafs. The guys break down the team’s ability to suppress shots in recent games and how their commitment to defense has reached a new level. They also chat about Artturi Lehkonen’s injury in Montreal and if they expect him to be back in time for the playoffs. The show als...

Aarif Deen and J.J. Jerez of Mile High Sports break down the Avs' four-game homestand and the mental grind of waking up for regular season games. The guys discuss Jared Bednar's comments about the team heading into Saturday's victory over Arizona. They also touch on Gabriel Landeskog's latest injury news and the potential returns of both Josh Manson and Darren Helm. The show ends with a preview of...

Aarif Deen is joined by Aniello Piro of Mile High Sports for the weekly MHS Avalanche AMA. The guys break down Colorado's 6-0 victory over San Jose before answering questions pertaining to potential playoff matchups, if the Avs can win the Central Division, and possible returns for players currently out injured. All that and more on this special edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanch...

JJ's back!! The podcast duo you love, Aarif Deen and J.J. Jerez of Mile High Sports are together again to break down Avalanche hockey. The guys get into Colorado's recent losing skid, specifically Mikko Rantanen's penalties, the trade deadline and if Chris MacFarland did enough. They also share their thoughts on if this team has what it takes for another long Cup run this year. They also preview t...

Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports is joined by Ryan Boulding of NHL.com to break down the Avalanche's addition of Lars Eller, who was acquired from the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. They discuss where Eller fits in the lineup, the impact he'll provide and his short-notice debut. They also chat about Colorado's 7-5 loss to New Jersey in a wild game and preview the playoff battle among Western Conf...

Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports and Peter Baugh of The Athletic are back to kick off the show with the Avs re-acquiring Jack Johnson from the Chicago Blackhawks for Andreas Englund. They discuss why they feel the team made the move, particularly Englund's departure. They also break down Colorado's five-game winning streak and how the team, and starting goalie, have suddenly looked more polished. Th...

Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports and Peter Baugh of The Athletic are back following the Avs' 6-5 OT victory over Edmonton. They touch on J.T. Compher's production, Nathan MacKinnon's hot streak and the Avs' ability to erase multiple leads. They also discuss Gabriel Landeskog finally skating and the impact he'll have if he returns. The show ends with a deep dive into how the guys think the Avs should...

Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports is joined by Ryan Boulding of NHL.com following the Avs' 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The guys discuss Bowen Byram's confidence, Cale Makar leaving the game momentarily and if he should've returned, and the Blues looking defeating after trading Ryan O'Reilly to Toronto. They also touch on Valeri Nichushkin's power-play goal, Mikko Rantanen finally hitting No...

Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports and Ryan Boulding of NHL.com break down the Avs' 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They also touch on Colorado's scheduling woes, starting with a back-to-back against a rested Minnesota team, and injuries that have hampered the team since returning from the All-Star break. The show ends with a quick recap of the four games since, where the Avs are 1-1-2....

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports recap the Avs' 2-1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They touch on the returns of Bowen Byram and Valeri Nichushkin, the goaltending performance from Pavel Francouz, Jeff Carter's hit on Cale Makar and Jared Bednar's comments postgame. All that and more on this mid-week edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Follow the g...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back, and so is Bowen Byram. The defenseman is back and ready to join the team on their three-game road trip. The guys discuss Byram's return, what exactly happened with his injury timeline and the effect he'll have. They also break down what the lines could look like with Byram and Valeri Nichushkin returning as the team awaits the nearing return...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back on the eve of the NHL All-Star Skills Competition to check in on what has been a much-needed five days off for the Avs. The show starts with J.J. discussing the upcoming All-Star weekend before Aarif joins the show to pitch in on the conversation. The guys then discuss who the Avs could trade for with Bo Horvat officially off the board and on...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports break down the Avs' 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. They discuss Jordan Binnington's antics in the second period, Colorado's strong start, and the team heading into the break on a high note. The guys also touch on how helpful the week off will be for the injured players and the lighter schedule in March and down the stretch. All that and more on...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports break down the Avalanche's Wednesday night trade. Colorado acquired old friend Matt Nieto and former first-round draft pick Ryan Merkley from the San Jose Sharks for Jacob MacDonald and Martin Kaut. All that and more on this emergency edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Follow the guys on Twitter @JJoftheyear and @runwriteAar...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back to break down the Avs' big win against the Washington Capitals. They start the show with a fun segment on Val Nichushkin before looking at how Colorado continues to win games. They discuss the team's rise in the standings, the expectations they have for themselves and what to expect for the last few months of the regular season. The show ends...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen are back to break down the Avs' successful road trip. Aarif recaps his time in Vancouver and Seattle for the final two games on the road before the guys discuss Colorado's entire trip and five-game winning streak. They also chat about the Bruce Boudreau saga in Vancouver that reached its peak the day the Avalanche were in town and came to a head on Sunday. They also touch...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports are back to talk about the Avs' exciting last two victories. The guys break down how the team has suddenly gotten back on track, Valeri Nichushkin's return and the impact of Evan Rodrigues. They also discuss how crucial it is for Pavel Francouz to be healthy and winning games as well. The show then shifts to a recap of the first 41 games, including the...

J.J. Jerez and Aarif Deen of Mile High Sports break down the Avs' 3-2 loss to the last-place Chicago Blackhawks. The guys discuss the deeper-rooted issues the team is facing because of all the injuries they've faced. They also break down some of the causes of these issues, including what many listeners and followers feel the problem is. The show ends with a quick chat on how Colorado could right t...