The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast

Macklin Celebrini’s four-point night has dragged the San Jose Sharks back into the playoff picture as they now sit just one point out. It's basically a 5-team race for the final wildcard berth in the west and while the Winnipeg Jets are now two points back and surging, the Nashville Predators seem to be fading, and all the teams involved continue to root against overtime in head-to-head matc...

The Vegas Golden Knights made a shocking late-season move by firing Bruce Cassidy and hiring John Tortorella with just eight games remaining, a surprising twist even amid the team's struggles since the Olympic break. However, with the league’s third-worst team save percentage, questions remain about how much Torts can realistically fix. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets have stormed back into con...

The Eastern Conference playoff race is heating up nightly, with even a light schedule delivering major implications—Boston grabbed two crucial points over Buffalo, solidifying their wildcard positioning and even threatening to move up on the Habs. Columbus has surged into contention under Rick Bowness, fuelled by standout goaltending from Jet Greaves and a Norris-caliber season from Zach Wer...

The New York Rangers managed just 10 shots in a 2–1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, who also lost Thomas Chabot and Lassi Thomson to injury, further thinning an already strained blue line ahead of a must-win against Detroit Red Wings, while the Rangers look like a team that’s checked out. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers face Utah sitting third in the Pacific but sliding after two straight...

Jack Hughes stirred debate after initially criticizing the Hockey Hall of Fame for holding his Olympic gold medal puck before softening his stance, with Ray defending his right to a little bit of personality amid some media overreaction. At the GM meetings, potential changes could allow some 19-year-olds into the AHL, though Ray notes only a small group would truly benefit and warns of development...

At the GM Meetings in Florida, Department of Player Safety was under the microscope following Radko Gudas’s 5-game suspension for the hit that ended Auston Matthews’ season, with many feeling the punishment was too light; George Parros suggested the door is open to changes, including potential third-party input. Ray feels suspensions are largely too lenient and called for a clearer, st...

Ottawa’s playoff push took a hit with a 3–2 loss to Montreal, as Ivan Demidov scored the winner and goalie Dustin Fowler stood tall for the Canadiens. On a night where Linus Ullmark only allowed 3 goals, the fellas argue it’s fair to question the Senators’ goaltending overall, suggesting even league-average numbers might have them comfortably in a playoff spot. In the West,...

The guys look ahead to a wide-open Atlantic Division race, where Ottawa’s playoff hopes may hinge on steadier goaltending, Detroit tries to snap a nine-year drought, and Boston faces a tough road-heavy schedule down the stretch. Buffalo, meanwhile, is surging behind a confident, free-wheeling style and a maturing blue line. Injuries are also shaping the playoff picture, with Brad Marchand po...

A relatively quiet trade deadline was highlighted by the surprising move of longtime Capital John Carlson to Anaheim, where the Ducks leaned further into building an offensive identity. Calgary GM Craig Conroy provided late day drama by sending Nazem Kadri back to Colorado as he chases another Stanley Cup. The Flames also moved Mackenzie Weegar earlier in the week and now sit on a large stockpile...

The Oilers added big, right-shot defender Connor Murphy to shore up their defensive conscience, but when you factor in the Skinner/Kulak-for-Jarry swap and the draft capital spent, it’s fair to question whether they’ve meaningfully improved, especially with bottom-six centre still a need. On the broader D market, Tyler Myers’ no-trade indecision may be stalling movement, with nam...

Jake Guentzel hit the post of the empty net but the Lightning roll over the Leafs in a 4-2 win. Leafs CEO Keith Pelley issued a letter to Toronto Maple Leafs season-ticket holders, saying the team will do what it takes to not only make the playoffs but take the next step. Joel Quenneville wins his 1,000th game as the Oilers blow a 2-goal lead to the Ducks...twice. Artemi Panarin makes his debut wi...

Olympics recap, Gold medal overtime goal analysis, Hughes brothers class, Tkachuk brothers swagger, Matthews has his moment, trade speculation heating up including: Flames Nazim Kadri, Predators Ryan O'Reilly, Canucks' Evander Kane and Elias Pettersson. Paul Coffey returns to the Oilers bench. Plus: The Tim Hortons NHL Hockey Challenge is back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray & Dregs react to USA's OT win over Canada for Olympic men’s hockey gold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Rishaug calls in with Tim Hortons Olympic updates from Team Canada practice. In Canadian Brewhouse headlines: Mark Stone impressing, Celebrini stellar, Tom Wilson a unicorn, has Binnington has surpassed expectations? Team USA report card, including Auston Matthews' performance, and the Tkachuk brothers chirps. Who will play for Gold? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frankie Corrado sits in for Ray Ferraro for our Team Canada Olympic Preview. The fellas discuss Jon Cooper’s tendency to mix lines early, the intriguing fit of Tom Wilson alongside Connor McDavid and how McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby down the middle could pose matchup nightmares, especially  for teams with a number of non-NHL defencemen. Canada's defence looks strong, though minutes be...

The Rangers dealt Artemi Panarin to LA for former first-round pick Liam Greentree and a conditional third, a return shaped largely by his trade protection, which limited the market. The Rangers retained 50% of his salary for this season and extended him for two years at $11M AAV; Ray understands the move for LA’s scoring and power-play needs but questions why New York rushed the trade with t...

Sunday’s Tampa Bay vs Boston outdoor game delivered a true spectacle — great hockey weather, a goalie fight, and a wild Lightning comeback from four goals down — though not without controversy, as Boston bristled at the penalty disparity and power plays that swung momentum, even if, as Ray notes, the Bruins are among the league’s most-penalized teams. The game also raised O...

Artemi Panarin appears to be headed out of New York, with the Rangers reportedly shelving him through the Olympic break to protect the asset, and his no-trade clause giving him significant control as teams like LA, Washington, San Jose and possibly Dallas circle, with the expectation he wants an extension wherever he lands. In Toronto, the Leafs sit eight points out a wildcard position and face ha...

The Edmonton Oilers made history with back-to-back hat tricks by defencemen; Bouchard and then Ekholm, the former now sits among the league’s top-scoring blueliners, after a typically slow start to the season. In Toronto, William Nylander was fined $5,000 for an ill-advised gesture toward a TV camera, a minor distraction but not enough to hide the Leafs’ returning inconsistency, raisin...

Injuries to OEL, Brandon Carlo, and long-term absences like Chris Tanev have likely forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Toronto. Jackson Lacombe being named Seth Jones’ replacement on the United States Olympic Team may have raised some eyebrows—especially with Canada and Sweden delaying decisions—and sparked debate over why Lane Hutson wasn’t chosen instead. In New Jersey...

Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon in conversation! A busy few days of trades saw Vegas land Rasmus Andersson from Calgary after extension issues steered the deal away from Boston, continuing the Golden Knights tradition of bold swings. Vancouver moved Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose for draft picks and depth, giving the Canucks five picks in the top 50, while the Sharks add energy and puck retri...

The New York Rangers ’ problems deepened with an 8–4 loss to Ottawa, their fifth straight defeat and 30 goals against, with J.T. Miller carefully noting the Sens were “more ready to play.” Injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox don’t mask bigger issues — the team lacks speed, the defence isn’t good enough, draft capital is thin. Restless fans at MSG are...

Brayden Point’s apparent leg injury has cast doubt over his Olympic availability with just a month to go, forcing Hockey Canada to game-plan potential replacements which will apparently be decided primarily by filling the same role as Point and there is an elite list of candidates. The Toronto Maple Leafs are surging with points in 10 straight, punctuated by an OT win in Colorado that snappe...

Bizarre scenes in Chicago saw Jordan Binnington being told to leave the crease after giving up his 7th goal, but he stayed put as backup Joel Hofer was nowhere to be found. New Jersey’s 9–0 loss to the Islanders came despite dominating shots on goal, with Jacob Markstrom left in for all nine goals. There are bigger problems for the Devils than just this one terrible outcome. Winnipeg&r...

Former NHL coach Dallas Eakins steps in for Ray, as he and Dregs tip their caps to the David Branch & Bob Pulford who both passed away over the weekend. Pulford, the Hall-of-Famer who was a four-time Cup champ with Toronto and veteran of 800-plus NHL games behind the bench, and Branch, the OHL Commissioner who genuinely cared about shaping players into better young men. Then, we discuss Sweden...