The Big Show

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we'll have in-depth analysis and lively discussion about everything happening in the NHL. Whether it’s trade rumors, player development or season predictions, it has expert takes and fresh perspectives on every episode.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Are The Red Wings At Risk Of Missing The Playoffs?

    Here's what Ryan Kennedy, Michael Traikos and Katie Gaus discussed: 0:50: What did you think of the Toronto Maple Leafs' response to Radko Gudas' knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews? 4:34: Is Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas earning (or already at) "dirty player" status? 6:58: Which NHL team will emerge in this Western wild-card race?  9:55: Are there any worries that the Detroit Red Wings might miss the playoffs again?  13:33: How much do you think Alex Tuch is worth to the Buffalo Sabres? 17:58: The Calgary Flames landed one of the most sought-after 2026 college free agents in St. Cloud State forward Tyson Gross. Thoughts on this move by the Flames?  BetMGM Playbook  20:59: Does having previous playoff experience matter when trying to win the division?  23:18: Could either Montreal or Detroit catch up to either Tampa or Buffalo to take over the top of the division?  25:21: Out of Tampa or Buffalo, who do you think will win the Atlantic division? Rapid Fire  28:16: The NHL announced the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will play two regular-season games in Dusseldorf, Germany, in December 2026. Are these teams the best choices for German fans? 30:04: With the regular season nearing its end, which player has had the best value contract this season?  32:34: What is the most notable trade you can remember involving rivals? 34:49: Yay or nay: is it OK for Connor McDavid to fight someone? 37:54: What impresses you the most about Para hockey players? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Do The Maple Leafs Have A Bad Rap Among NHL Players?

    Here's what Drew Shore, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos discussed: 1:49: How far do you think the Montreal Canadiens can get in this year's playoffs?  4:45: How can Montreal combat heavy play from other teams in the playoffs?  6:13: What is it like for a player going into the Bell Centre in Montreal?  7:06: There is a narrative out there that Toronto is a terrible place to play and all the Maple Leafs do is run their stars out of town. How real is this? Do they need to do some PR? 11:09: Drew, what was the perspective on playing in Toronto?  12:17: Are the Boston Bruins' playoff hopes destined to fail if they can't figure it out on the road? 15:10: Could James Hagens be added to the Bruins roster for the playoffs?  15:40: If Boston played Buffalo in the first round, would the Bruins be favored?  16:50: The Edmonton Oilers are starting to heat up at the right time. How important is it that they win the division? 19:19: The Oilers are playing the nuclear option of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (with Jack Roslovic) together more – is this sustainable? 20:51: Where are the Philadelphia Flyers going? What are the Flyers' objectives after this season?  24:20: Drew, what do you do if you're the Flyers? 28:10: Ryan, what makes NHL draft prospect goaltender Harrison Boettiger's development unique? 30:40: Will any goalies go in the first round of the draft this year?  33:08: Macklin Celebrini is the third-fastest teenager to 90 points in a season, getting in 62 games. How many points will he finish the season with? 35:23: Which team would you rather have the 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche or the field going into the playoffs? 38:25: Nathan MacKinnon was ejected from yesterday's game for crashing into Oilers goalie Connor Ingram. Was a five-minute major the right call, or should it have only been two minutes? 41:44: Charlie McAvoy needs dental work again after being hit in the face Tuesday night. Does he deserve to win the Masterton Trophy at this point? 42:44: Do we consider Rasmus Dahlin a rat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  3. 08/05/2025

    Second-Round Storylines In The NHL Playoffs, Ft. Drew Shore

    The Hockey News Big Show is here to look around the NHL playoffs and beyond, with help from a special guest. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and ex-NHL player Drew Shore discussed in this episode: 0:55: Does Sunrise, Fla., get enough credit for how good of a city and Florida Panthers home crowd it is to play?   1:31: How important are line matchups between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Panthers going to be now that the series is headed to Florida, where Paul Maurice will have the last change?  3:06: Which line should Florida match up against Auston Matthews or William Nylander's line, as the top line? 6:05: Will the Florida Panthers try to slow play down and win with low-scoring games? 7:06: The Mikko Rantanen Show was on full display again. Have we ever seen one player take over like this before? 9:42: How will the Winnipeg Jets stop Rantanen?   10:26: Is Jim Nill the best GM in the Modern Era?  14:28: The Carolina Hurricanes is up 1-0 against the Washington Capitals, but can you see this series going to six or seven games?  16:14: What is it like being coached by Rod Brind'Amour? 17:30: Is there something about Carolina's style of hockey that doesn’t translate into the playoffs?  18:36: Sebastian Aho has the type of slight build that shouldn't work in the playoffs. What makes him so effective as a competitor? 20:46: Will goaltending be Edmonton's Achilles heel, or is it good enough?  24:15: Alex Pietrangelo and Pavel Dorofeyev of Vegas were absent from practice. How big would these losses be? 27:56: World Championship: which players have the most to gain/lose? 32:27: Why has James Hagens dropped so far in the rankings heading into the NHL draft? 34:47: Joel Quenneville is reportedly joining the Anaheim Ducks. Is he the right coach for this team? 36:55: Kraken/Golden Knights/Mammoth: which recent new team has the best name? 37:35: Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel: Regular seasons aside, who has been the better playoff performer? 39:12: Home teams aren’t performing very well in the second round of the playoffs, so is home-ice advantage real?  40:25: Who is your early Conn Smythe pick? Anyone else besides Rantanen? 41:02: Would the Avalanche have been better off with Rantanen or depth? 42:30: What's your current pump-up song?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  4. 01/05/2025

    NHL Round 1 Surprises, MVPs, Coaching Job Openings And More

    The Hockey News Big Show is here to not only discuss the closing stages of the first round but some of the other biggest topics in the NHL. Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Katie Gaus discussed in this episode: 0:47: Game 6 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is Thursday night. Are the Leafs still "fine," or could they blow another series lead again? 3:30: How much pressure is on the Maple Leafs in Game 6, and do you expect any lineup changes?  6:06: Even if the Maple Leafs do win the series, have they changed your mind about them being a "contender?" 9:30: The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet in the second round. Thoughts on this series?  13:28: In Game 5 between the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, there was a league review for a kicking motion, which gave Vegas time to watch the goal, and when it was determined there was no kick, Vegas challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. Many online comments suggest that this is ruining hockey. Do you agree? 16:43: Most surprising series so far? 20:11: First-round MVP candidates so far? 22:07: Player that's been the biggest surprise in the first round, for good or bad reasons? 25:19: The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning like crazy, with so many open jobs. Where do we see Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan landing? Could more coaches lose their jobs? 29:15: The NHL’s Hart Trophy finalists are Leon Draisaitl, Connor Hellebuyck and Nikita Kucherov. Thoughts on no Nathan Mackinnon? Who will win it?  33:16: Taylor Hall signed a three-year contract extension worth $3.167 million annually. Do we like it?  34:25: Utah Hockey Club’s YouTube channel briefly showed "@UtahMammoth"  as the handle... sounds like this is it? Yay or nay? 36:58: Who do you want to see win the NHL draft lottery? Who actually wins it? 39:59: Patrik Laine enters the final year of his contract next season. Do the Habs re-sign him over the summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  5. 24/04/2025

    Bruce Boudreau Talks NHL Playoffs, Canucks' Hughes And Ovechkin

    We have a special guest for a special playoff edition of The Hockey News Big Show. Longtime NHL coach Bruce Boudreau joins Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos to discuss what's going on in the Stanley Cup playoffs, what's happening with the non-playoff squads and some of Boudreau's stories, including his time with the Vancouver Canucks. Here's what they discussed in this episode: 0:00: Which goaltender should start for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 versus the Los Angeles Kings? 8:14: Has Matthew Knies’ play unlocked a new level of offense for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the power play? 14:58: Have the Washington Capitals proven to be a true Stanley Cup contender? 20:19: With their roster now fully healthy, do the Florida Panthers have the scariest offense in the East? 24:49: Are the Winnipeg Jets proving they don’t need Connor Hellebuyck to play at a top-tier level to be a Stanley Cup contender? 28:36: Breaking down Gabriel Landeskog’s return to the Colorado Avalanche's lineup. 33:50: After signing an extension with the New York Rangers, what should Chris Drury’s off-season plan be? 39:15: Who should take home the Jack Adams Award this year? 41:01: Will Alex Ovechkin retire from hockey before the age of 50? 43:30: Who’s the best goal-scorer that Boudreau ever played with and against? 45:03: Which first-round series is most likely to have an upset? 47:34: Should Jim Rutherford have discussed Quinn Hughes’ contract talks publicly? 49:27: Updated Stanley Cup picks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min

About

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we'll have in-depth analysis and lively discussion about everything happening in the NHL. Whether it’s trade rumors, player development or season predictions, it has expert takes and fresh perspectives on every episode.

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