Category: NHL

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks defense has big skates to fill without Karlsson around anymore; Duclair expected to be a big part of the Sharks offense

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Anthony Duclair a former Florida Panther slides on his back in his effort to reach the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at T Mobile in Las Vegas on Mon Jun 5, 2023. Duclair is expected to be a big part of the San Jose Sharks offense this season (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Troy when you take a look at the rumor mills of the San Jose Sharks wanting to trade Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier last season and they eventually did how much was it a distraction for the team in that last month of the season?

#2 The Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks both of whom dealt Erik Karlsson away looking back for both teams do you see them having regret in letting Karlsson go?

#3 How much do you see Karlsson complimenting the Pittsburgh Penguins defense going into this season with the talents of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?

#4 How much will the Sharks feel it by missing Karlsson and his 101 points for a defenceman in the line up?

#5 Anthony Duclair is expected to add a lot to the offense, he’s a scorer and this is a negotiation year for Duclair so he’ll be working hard to light the lamp. He was key for the Florida Panthers during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals last season.

Troy Ewers covers the San Jose Sharks for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Hawks Bedard can he live up to the hype; Leafs coach Keefe gets 2 more yrs; plus more news

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Connor Bedard takes a shot at the net in practice. Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks will get to take a look at him when pre season starts during the last week in September (NHL.com photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Connor Bedard is all the rage and the Chicago Blackhawks are excited on seeing what he can do. Bedard is excited about getting in camp and getting on with the NHL pre season and is compared to being the best NHL prospect since Austin Matthews.

#2 The Toronto Maple Leafs extended head coach Sheldon Keefe two more seasons. Keefe will be under contract from 2025-26. Talk about some the things the Leafs like about Keefe to bring him back for two more seasons.

#3 The Vegas Golden Knights Phil Kessel said he is willing to give up his 1,064 consecutive games streak to help the Knights. Kessel is not guaranteed a contract for the 2023-24 season and said he would take a healthy scratch if it would help a team.

#4 Former San Jose Shark Joonas Donskoi announced his retirement at age 31. Donskoi didn’t play a game with the Seattle Kraken last season. Donskoi said that concussions have forced him into retirement. Donskoi played seven NHL seasons for San Jose, Colorado Avalanche and the Kraken.

#5 Former Minnesota North Star Brad Maxwell 66, passed away from lung cancer. Maxwell played 613 games and played in the NHL 1977-1987 the North Stars. Maxwell was an excellent golfer.

Join Len for the NHL podcasts weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks put hopes on Hoffman, Duclair and Blackwood for 23-24 season

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Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) turns after scoring a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, in Newark, N.J. MacKenzie who plays goalie for San Jose is preparing for the pre season (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Troy there’s no doubt that the SJ Sharks have a lot stacked against them from making the playoffs this season. They struggled even when they had Erik Karlsson now they can expect to struggle even more without him.

#2 Last season the Sharks had goaltenders James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen and they had a rough seasons.

#3 The Sharks in their save percentage had .881 and that was 2% less than the rest of the league where the average was .899 and they need to bring that up

#4 For Kahkonen he needs to be able to stop the shot and have the kind of season he had in the early part of last year. MacKenzie Blackwood needs to execute the kind of performance that got him to the NHL in the first place.

#5 The loss of Timo Meier last season hurts the team and the Sharks are looking at Anthony Duclair and Mike Hoffman to help out in some crucial scoring.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Sabres long time announcer Jeanneret passes at 81; Toews says he’ll be back next season; plus more news

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Former Buffalo Sabres longtime announcer Rick Jeanneret poses with the Buffalo Sabres passed away on Thu Aug 17, 2023. Jeanneret was longest tenured NHL announcer in the game’s history. (photo from NHL.com)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Long time broadcast voice of the Buffalo Sabres Rick Jeanneret who started with the Sabres on Oct 10, 1971 and retired on Apr 22, 2022 died at 81 years old. He retired as the longest tenured play by play announcer in NHL history.

#2 Jeanneret was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and was the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Award.

#3 Former Chicago Blackhawk Jonathan Toews will not be retiring from ice hockey but did say he will be taking time off from the game. Toews played hockey for 15 years. Toews 35 said he wanted to wait to the end of the regular season to decide what he’s going to do and who he will return with.

#4 The Winnipeg Jets Josh Morrisey said he’s 100 percent ready entering camp next month after sustaining a season ending lower body injury during while playing against the Las Vegas Golden Knights in a double overtime in which the Jets loss 5-4. The injury Apr 22 last season and Morrissey said the injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

#5 Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson is settling in with his new team how do you see him fitting in in Pittsburgh. Karlsson led the NHL last season with the most goals for a defenceman and now he joins the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin what’s that going to do for Karlsson and the Penguins at large.

Len Shapiro does the NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: With or without Karlsson this would have been a rebuild year for San Jose

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Feb. 14, 2023. Karlsson joins the Penguins in a deal on Sun Aug 6, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

On thing about dealing defenseman Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins it give San Jose Sharks general manager some room to sign some players. The big thing is that the Sharks got the first round pick from the Penguins.

The Sharks got forwards Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman, defenseman Jan Rutta and a top ten protected 2024 first round pick and the Montreal Canadiens got goaltender Casey DeSmith and defenseman Jeff Petry.

The Penguins in turn picked up from the Sharks forwards Rem Pitlick and Dillon Hamaliuk a 2026 with Karlsson. This on the face of it is not a good deal for San Jose who gives up a defenseman who scored 101 points. Look for Karlsson to be a huge asset joining Pittsburgh with Evgeni Malkin and Sid Crosby.

Len Shapiro does the San Jose Sharks podcasts for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Kraken, Penguins or Hurricanes who will pick up Karlsson’s massive contract?

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San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier meets with the news media on Tue Jul 5, 2022 at his introduction to the team. Grier has made a number of moves this past week (Tue Jul 4, 2023) and the possibility of moving Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Troy:

#1 Troy, San Jose Sharks Erik Karlsson is a three time Norris Award winner and teams as well as the Sharks are shopping him but there are no takers because teams are concerned about cap space in obtaining Karlsson who makes $11.5 million yearly and has three more seasons left on his contract running through the 2026-27 season.

#2 Teams that might make it work are the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Seattle Kraken. While the Penguins could show interest, the Carolina Panthers might have space issues but the Kraken have the cap room and the budget to take Karlsson off the Sharks hands. Either way Karlsson would be competitive playing for any one of these teams.

#3 Troy talk about how important it is for the Sharks to have signed forward Nathan Todd, Todd comes to the Sharks after playing 16 games for the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds with eight goals and six assists. Sharks general manager Mike Grier signed Todd because he was big on helping the Thunderbirds get into the Calder Cup in 2022 and was named the 2020-21 All Star team scoring 12 goals and 20 assists.

#4 This week the Sharks picked up defenseman Leon Gwanke in exchange for defenseman Artemi Kniazev. Gwanke 24, had a strong showing last season skating for the AHL Manitoba Moose scoring 20 goals and 25 assists coming from the Winnipeg Jets organization.

#5 Making his second stint with the San Jose Sharks signed forward Ryan Carpenter to a one year two way contract. Carpenter formerly played for the New York Rangers scoring last season 21 goals and 23 assists. Carpenter played with the Sharks in the 2013-14 season to 2017-18. Troy talk about how big of help Carpenter will be for San Jose this season.

Join Troy Ewers for the San Jose Sharks podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks Karlsson will be hard to move due to big contract

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) works for the puck against Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, Karlsson makes over $11 million a season and most NHL teams won’t consider taking on a contract of that size. (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy:

#1 How amazing would it be for the San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson to win the Norris Award for the third time in career.

#2 One of the toughest things about the Sharks looking to trade Karlsson is his contract Karlsson after four years with the Sharks is the highest paid defenseman in the NHL.

#3 Karlsson who gets a $11.5 million contract makes it tough to move him and considering the Sharks haven’t raised the salary cap in since 2019 and the cap has gone up only to $2 million up to $83.5 million.

#4 Friday was a big day for Patrick Marleau after four months out from retiring his jersey. Marleau now takes the role of player development coach and hockey operations advisor. Marleau 43 is the NHL leader in games played. The Sharks have not made post season since 2019 could Marleau be the answer to help them get there?

#5 Troy talk about one of the key things that head coach David Quinn would like to see out of this off season for improvements on the team.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks beat reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Knights could wrap it up Tuesday at T Mobile Arena

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Florida Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura (28) and Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) fight during the third period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Final with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights are on the cusp of winning their first Stanley Cup Final in their first six years of existence and Tuesday could be the night as they host the Florida Panthers in game 5.

#2 The Knights got a narrow 3-2 win over the Panthers on Saturday night in Sunrise Florida, the Knights were able to stop a shot and get a big save to win game four to go up 3-1.

#3 Marko, game 4 got physical and the Panthers who were on their home ice and needed this win bad didn’t want to go back to Vegas two games down and resorted to pushing and shoving and glove dropping in the last few seconds of Saturday’s game.

#4 Knights forward Nicolas Roy said the Panthers have been pushing and shoving all series long and that it’s not a surprise. With the Panthers down one goal they felt the frustration and it all came out in the final seconds of game 4.

#5 It’s a big night Tuesday in Vegas as the Knights host game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the T Mobile Arena needing just one game to become champions for the first time in the franchise history.

Marko Ukalovic did the NHL Stanley Cup Final podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman and Augie Mesenburg: Belmont Stakes and the dangers to horses lives; Nuggets can put it away on Monday night; plus more

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National Treasure trains ahead of the Belmont Stakes horse race, Friday, June 9, 2023, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman and Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Stephen tonight is the Belmont Stakes a the third of the three big horse races but the talk and focus going into tonight’s Belmont has been about that eight horse that had died last month at Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby. Is this part of the sport of the dangers of the sport or the care for the horse have just taken a dive in the last year or so.

#2 The Denver Nuggets chalked up another win against the Miami Heat and are up 3-1 in the series it just looks like a series where the Nuggets are just cruising and they could wrap this NBA Finals up Monday night in Denver.

#3 Tuesday night will mark a historic night in Oakland A’s history as they will be holding a reverse boycott to show MLB that the A’s do have fan support and that the fans are not at fault for the A’s having to leave Oakland for Las Vegas. Tuesday could be the day that the Nevada Legislature could vote on the $380 million in tax credits to help for Tropicana ballpark on the Vegas strip.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are coming off a sweep in Denver against the Colorado Rockies and opened this three game series with the Chicago Cubs with a 3-2 loss on Friday night. The Giants sit in third place 6.5 games back of the first place Arizona Diamondback coming into Saturday night’s game.

#5 The Oakland A’s put together their longest win streak of the season at three straight taking the last two games of the three game series in Pittsburgh and taking the first game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday and it may not set the world on fire but you can feel the incentive in the A’s clubhouse.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Knights-Panthers face off tonight for game 4

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Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) defends Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23), as goaltender Adin Hill (33) protects the net during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Marko Ukalovic for Matt Harrington:

#1 The Panthers got a little pressure off when they won game 3 in Florida in overtime it would have been a nightmare for Vegas having to go into game 4 down 0-3 but they recovered and they could tie this thing up tonight 2-2.

#2 The Vegas Golden Knights have dominated in the first two games of this Final but the Panthers in game 3 were a determined bunch and going into that overtime they had to find a way.

#3 The Panthers Carter Verhaeghe scored the overtime winner on a wrister at 4:27 in the overtime stanza in Thursday night’s game 3 thriller talk about how that gamer was set up.

#4 Verhaeghe said the Panthers are the cats and they have whatever lives they have and said that Florida has no quit in them.

#5 Marko, how impressive are the Panthers just to get this far coming back 1-3 in round one against the Boston Bruins then going onto advance in rounds two and three against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes to get to these finals.

#6 Game 4 tonight in Sunrise and the Panthers still face another critical game they have to avoid going down 1-3 going back to Vegas on Tuesday night.

Marko Ukaloivic filled in for Matt Harrington who does the NHL Stanley Cup post season podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com