Rosen & Roarke roundtable; Cup Final impact, Season in review, free-agency primer
Daren is joined by Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke of NHL.com and the NHL @TheRink podcast (3:36) to put a bow on the 2023-24 NHL Season and look ahead to what will happen during free agency. The guys try to describe the importance of what this season has been to the NHL and why the League is seemingly in a great place. Plus, they discuss the possibilities surrounding Steven Stamkos, Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel & Jonathan Marchessault. They chat about the potential for the Utah Hockey Club to make a big splash in free-agency and try to predict who the favorite will be to win the Stanley Cup next season. Daren starts the episode looking back at an amazing Stanley Cup Final and the reasons for its incredible success across North America.
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34:26
Rick Tocchet joins; Cup Final reaction, Panther's experience matters, CapFriendly alternatives
Daren is joined by Rick Tocchet (8:43) to talk about winning the Jack Adams Award, the Stanley Cup Final matchp, life in the off-season and adjustments he expects the Vancouver Canucks will make to continue their success on the ice. He talks about the process he goes thru each offseason to re-group and prepare for the upcoming season and takes us behind the curtain on the importance of assistant coaches. Rick looks back a little bit on the Canucks season and playoff run and looks ahead at how things will be harder for his team as they won't take anyone by surprise next season. Daren starts the episode looking at the Stanley Cup Final and the Panthers 3-0 series lead and wraps up by discussing the Capitals acquisition of CapFriendly.
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37:11
Ray Ferraro joins; Stanley Cup Final storylines and preview
Daren is joined by ESPN lead analyst Ray Ferraro (1:57) to dive deep into the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. What's the biggest storyline of the Cup Final that stands out to Ray? He answers that question and looks at every angle of the coaching matchup and explains why he's been so impressed with Kris Knoblauch. Plus, he talks about some of his interactions with Paul Maurice throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs and why he thinks Maurice is having the time of his life coaching the Florida Panthers. How do the Panthers slow down McDavid? Ray looks at how the Panthers will go about defending the best player in the world and why it's so hard to slow him down consistently. He thinks the two best teams are in the Final and is looking forward to what he says will be a GREAT series.
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29:18
Eddie Olczyk joins; Conference Finals reaction, 1994 memories, Coaching hires
Daren is joined by TNT lead analyst Eddie Olczyk (1:00). Edzo dives deep into both Conference Finals. He explains why Roope Hintz is so important to Dallas and what changes the Oilers might have to consider the rest of the way. What team in the Finals is feeling the most pressure to win now? Edzo answers that question and also takes a trip down memory lane as he recalls the run that the Rangers went on in 1994 to win the Stanley Cup. He wonders if the Rangers can continue to win with their style of play, but points to Igor Shesterkin's brilliance as to why the Rangers have been so dangers during this run. Plus, the guys go back and forth on some of the coaching practices we've seen in the NHL this cycle and Edzo discusses some of the changes he'd like to see with the way coaches are hired in the League.
Daren is joined by his old pal and former NHL coach and GM Doug MacLean (1:20). Doug dissects the tough goalie decision that Kris Knoblauch faced and explains why he wouldn't be afraid to play McDavid and Draisaitl as much as possible. He looks at some of the different motivational styles that coaches have employed, including Paul Maurice's rants and Jim Montgomery's theatrics behind the bench. He weighs in on what's going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs and discusses the pressure that managers and coaches feel once the Stanley Cup Playoffs arrive. Of course, he shares a few great stories as he reveals his biggest coaching rival and tips his cap to Nick Kypreos for a premonition he had about Sam Bennett years ago.
The Chirp with Daren Millard will feature free-flowing conversations with NHL players, coaches, executives and respected media members. Daren will cover the biggest NHL topics like only he can, drawing on his and his guest’s unique perspective on the best sport in the world. Smart takes, spirited debates and plenty of laughs, The Chirp is a must-listen for any NHL fan.