Top Shelf

Welcome to Top Shelf! On the latest episode, the guys unpack the futures of Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid. Will one or both marquee players be on the move this offseason? Summer of 2027? And what does the possibility of superstar movement say about the modern NHL?Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@JoshWegman_ | X)Foll...

Welcome to Top Shelf! On this week's episode, the guys mock the top 10 picks of the 2026 NHL Draft after Tuesday's lottery. Will Toronto take Gavin McKenna first overall? Who should Vancouver pick after dropping to No. 3?Check out the remaining 6 picks at theScore.comhttps://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3536054Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@...

Welcome to Top Shelf! On the latest episode of Top Shelf, the guys discuss the NHL's much-maligned divisional playoff format before diving into the Minnesota-Dallas first-round series. Are people overreacting to the format? Can the Wild take advantage of a shorthanded Stars squad? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@matiszjohnKyle | X)Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@Josh...

Welcome to Top Shelf! On the latest episode of Top Shelf, the guys discuss the rise of Tage Thompson and revisit the trade that brought him to Buffalo in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly. In retrospect, who won the deal? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@matiszjohnKyle | X)Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@JoshWegman_ | X)Also on Spotify:Follow us on Instagram: https://www.ins...

Welcome to Top Shelf! The guys breakdown the Vegas Golden Knight’s ambitious decision to fire their long-time coach, Bruce Cassidy, with just 8 games left in the season, with John Tortorella taking the reigns. What’s going on in Vegas, and how will the players react to their new bench boss? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@JoshWegman_ | X)Follow us...

Welcome to Top Shelf! The Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL's best young teams. How did they get here? The guys break down the smart moves and risky bets that have allowed the Habs to go from the 2021 Stanley Cup Final to last place and back to contention. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@JoshWegman_ | X)Follow us on Instagram: https://www.i...

Welcome to Top Shelf! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys tier-list the NHL's Stanley Cup contenders following the 2026 trade deadline. Who's worthy of the top "Cup of bust" label 60-plus games into the season? Which teams belong in the "Fraudulent" tier? Dark-horse contenders? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushma...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Molson! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys debrief the epic Olympic men's hockey gold medal game. Lessons to learn from Canada's loss? Takeaways from USA's gold turn? Plus: who's in/who's out on Team Canada as the focus shifts to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Ky...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Molson! On the latest episode of Top Shelf, the guys react to Canada's quarterfinal SCARY victory over Czechia at the 2026 Olympics. Which players stood out in the country's first elimination game? Who needs to step up in Crosby's potential absence? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh W...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Molson! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys preview the Olympic men's hockey tournament with a fun fill-in-the-blank exercise. What's Canada's No. 1 weakness? What must go right for Team USA? Who's the dark horse country nobody's talking about? And much more. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyl...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Molson! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys preview the Olympic men's hockey tournament with a fun fill-in-the-blank exercise. What's Canada's No. 1 weakness? What must go right for Team USA? Who's the dark horse country nobody's talking about? And much more.0:00 - Rundown of Olympic groups, playoff format1:10 - "Canada will...

Former NHLer turned broadcaster P.K. Subban joins the panel for a special episode of Top Shelf. Hosts Levi Smith and John Matisz chat with Subban about the CBC documentary "RIVALS: The 4 Nations Face-Off," Canada's chances at the 2026 Olympics, the rise of Macklin Celebrini, best and worst trash-talkers, and much more. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn |...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys reflect on the 2025-26 NHL season with a superlative "Enter-Prizes" awards show ahead of the Olympic break. Who's most likely to partake in the next goalie fight? Snub most likely to keep an Olympic GM up at night? Goon bringing the most overall value? Biggest regression candidate? And mo...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys get into the Olympic spirit with a full slate of trivia. Name the 10 countries with the most men's hockey medals, the most notable NHLers from obscure nations, and the entire 2014 Team USA roster. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys analyze two recent NHL trades -- Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose and Rasmus Andersson to Vegas -- before diving into the state of the Rangers. How can GM Chris Drury conduct a proper retool? Plus: Mitch Marner returns to Toronto. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cush...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On the latest episode of Top Shelf, the guys put their heads together to make a list of the 10 most impactful trades since 2020. How many recent blockbusters make the quarter-century cut? Where does 2016's P.K.-Subban-for-Shea-Weber whopper land? Joe Thornton to San Jose? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Josh Weg...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On the latest episode of Top Shelf, the guys drum up some future headlines for the second half of the NHL season. Panthers and Leafs playoff chances, next teams for Stamkos and Panarin, Celebrini and the Hart, and much more. Also: Trivia! Top goal-scorers of the 2025 calendar year. Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Ky...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys talk NHL prospects: biggest team takeaways and strongest player performances from the 2026 world juniors, plus a 10-team midseason mock draft. Is Gavin McKenna still the presumptive No. 1 pick? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys preview the 2026 World Junior Championship. Who are the key players to watch? Will Canada right the ship after consecutive poor showings? Can the USA three-peat on home ice? Also: handing out Christmas gifts to NHL teams! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys unpack the Quinn Hughes blockbuster then tier all 32 NHL teams a couple of weeks shy of 2025-26's halfway point. How good is Minnesota, really? Which teams are certified Stanley Cup contenders? One trade away from contending? Fraudulent? Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJo...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys deep dive the Quinn Hughes trade saga. What makes this situation unique? What would a Devils-Canucks trade even look like? Do Carolina, Philadelphia, and Detroit have better packages to offer Vancouver? Plus: Brothers-related NHL trivia! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn |...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys play trade matchmaker. What are the needs of the NHL's Stanley Cup contenders, and which players fit those needs? Spicy mock trades for Montreal, Carolina, New Jersey, Edmonton, Colorado, and Anaheim. Plus: the return of career-path trivia! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@Matis...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys project the United States' 2026 Olympic men's hockey roster. Which players are locks? Which non-locks have the upper hand? Are J.T. Miller and Cole Caufield no-brainer picks? Also: we lay out the cases for our favorite bubble players! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJ...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys project Team Canada's men's roster for the Olympics. Is Macklin Celebrini a lock? Could Matthew Schaefer actually make the team? What about the goaltending? All that and more! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush | X)Josh Wegman (@JoshWegm...

Welcome to Top Shelf, presented by Enterprise! On this week's episode of Top Shelf, the guys discuss the Hockey Hall of Fame candidacies of some active NHLers. Who's more worthy of the Hall call, Brad Marchand or Corey Perry? Matthews or Eichel? Doughty or Kopitar? Also: Hall of Fame-themed trivia! Hosted by: Levi Smith (@LeviSmithh | X)John Matisz (@MatiszJohn | X)Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush...