NHL podcast Len Shapiro: Sharks Celebrini’s five yr $94 million deal; Hughes-Wild talk contract worth $47.1 million

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini celebrates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

NHL podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 Len, talk about the San Jose Sharks Macklin Celebrini’s recent contract extension worth $94 million for five years worth $18 million which is a signing bonus?

#2 The Minnesota Wild met with Quinn Hughes on Tuesday. Hughes still has a year left on his $47.1 million contract with annual pay out of $7.85 million that contract ends July 1st 2027. He will finish his last year with the Wild of his contract that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks.

#3 Len, talk about the two year contract that goaltender Stuart Skinner signed on Jul 1st after spliting last year with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers. Skinner joins the Winnipeg Jets and will be a back up goaltender for Connor Hellebuyck. Skinner was 23-17-9 with a 2.92 goals against average.

#4 The Columbus Blue Jackets Cole Sillinger said that the players are obligated to get the Jackets to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sillinger signed with the Jackets for $13.875 million, $4.625 million annual, for three years. Sillinger said he was ready to help lead the Jackets to the post season.

#5 Former Detroit Red Wing Patrick Kane said he was glad to play for the Red Wings and made friends with former teammate Alex DeBrincat and said that he would like have been a part in helping the Wings get to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some of the reasons why Kane left Detroit might have been that Dylan Larkin requested a trade, Steve Yzerman as GM, and Chicago Blackhawks owner Danny Wirtz called Kane as soon as his free agency became available.

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

NHL podcast Len Shapiro: A Kane-Bedard reunion should bolster Hawks offense; CBJ’s sign goalie Greaves to 3 year deal; plus more news

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) is back with a two year $16 million deal as the Blackhawks look forward to the tandem of Kane and Connor Bedard (AP News photo)

NHL podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 Patrick Kane has officially returned to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year contract. How might Kane’s reunion with Connor Bedard impact Chicago’s offense for the 2026–27 season?

#2 The Columbus Blue Jackets signed goaltender Jet Greaves to a three-year extension before arbitration. After his first full NHL season, what role do you expect Greaves to play in Columbus’ future?

#3 Reports continue to swirl around Connor McDavid’s next contract. What do you think is the most important factor influencing McDavid’s next deal with the Edmonton Oilers: salary, term, or Stanley Cup contention?

#4 Drew Fortescue is focusing on strength and skill development after making his NHL debut with the New York Rangers. Which area of his game do you think will be most important for earning a full-time roster spot?

#5 Trevor Zegras left wing and center for the Philadelphia Flyers who prefers the center position that could help him and the Flyers for shot into post season play. Zegras agreed to a four year $36.5 million contract worth $9.125 per season. Zegras’ stats in 2025-26, 26 goals, 41 assists, 67 points in 81 games

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

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Stadium Series gets TV ratings boost from outdoor games; Canes Andersen is on the way back from blood clotting; plus more news

TV ratings were up 21% at the Met Life East Rutherford in the NHL Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series on Sat Feb 17 with the Philadelphia Flyers vs. the New Jersey Devils and on Sun Feb 18 New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the NHL Stadium Series with the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils on Sat 17th and the New York Rangers and New York Islanders Sun 18th were big hits at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford. Both games combined for 150,000 fans and the TV rating were up 21% from last season’s Stadium Series. ABC TV had 1.37 million viewers and 449,000 in the 18-49 demographic.

#2 Len talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs Austin Matthews he’s been unstoppable on Wednesday night he scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season in 54 games. Matthews also has 24 assists and a total of 75 points. San Ramon’s very own Matthews was born in your neck of the woods Contra Costa County.

#3 The Chicago Blackhawks Connor Bedard is a big fan of the Detroit Red Wings Patrick Kane for the first time this season. Bedard who will face Kane who has won the Stanley Cup three times and looks at it as a challenge and an honor to face one of the best former Blackhawks in history. Face off between the two teams at the United Center in Chicago is Sunday at 6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT.

#4 The Philadelphia Flyers after winning three straight games dropped their next two one to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the second to the New Jersey Devils. Flyers head coach John Tortorella was barking at his players during the Monday morning skate “not enough” and said he wanted “more from everybody” and it looked like it worked as the Flyers who took on the Blackhawks on Wednesday night and played a much tighter game and getting the win 3-1.

#5 The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers have expressed interest in a possible trade for the San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin and defenseman Mario Ferraro. Ferraro is in the third year of his four year $13 million contract and Kunin is under team control and would be a restricted free agent after this season. The Sharks would get a first rounder from either club.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Robinson traded to Buffalo from Columbus; Toronto’s Klingberg hip surgery out for season; plus more NHL news

Eric Robinson forward was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2025 seventh round draft pick Wed Dec 6, 2023. Here is Robinson skating against the Ottawa Senators on Sun Apr 2, 2023. (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Forward Eric Robinson was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres from the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday. The Blue Jackets in turn received a seventh round 2025 draft pick from the Sabres in the exchange. Robinson has one goal, three assists and seven points this season. Robinson played in 72 games last season for the Blue Jackets.

#2 Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg will be out for the rest of the season due to hip surgery. Klingberg went on long term injured reserve on Nov 23 and will have hip surgery with an expected five to six months recovery time. Klingberg last played on Nov 11th in the Leafs 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

#3 Former New York Rangers and current Detroit Red Wing Patrick Kane will see action against the San Jose Sharks at 4:00pm PT tonight at Little Caesar’s Pizza Arena in Detroit. Kane had been out since Jun 1 after having resurfacing surgery. This will be Kane’s first game as a Red Wing his last game was with the Rangers in game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference first round on May 1st.

#4 The NHL has announced that they will be the first sports league to hold an event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The 2024 NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere on Jun 28 and 29. The Sphere holds 18,600 in the globe changing like arena. It’s know for it’s LED displays and state of the art video displays on it’s globe like surface.

#5 The NHL announced this week that it will be growing it’s salary cap from $83.5 million to $87.7 million an increase of $4.2 million. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who is expected to address the media on the subject will give a fuller picture of the projections. One of the key reasons for the raise is the league has gained profit revenue to the tune of $3.3 billion.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Teams dealing as trade deadline looms Friday

Former Arizona Coyote Jakob Chychrun was dealt to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for three draft picks. Chychrun was in the fourth year of his six year deal in Arizona (AP News file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the deals are in the making as the Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun was dealt to the Ottawa Senators for three draft picks on Wednesday. Chychrun was in the fourth year of his six year deal with the Coyotes which he signed in 2018. Chychrun had 28 points, seven goals, and 21 assists. Chychrun could be a unrestricted free agent in the 2024-25 season.

#2 Originally sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets sent Jonathan Quick to the Vegas Golden Knights they flipped him.

#3 The Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid can’t be stopped he has now scored two goals in each of his last five games and Wednesday was no exception as the Oilers made themselves right at home at Rogers Centre in Toronto with a three goal win 5-2.

#4 The New York Rangers are going to be a force in the post season and Vladimir Tarasenko helped the Rangers get a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for an overtime win 3-2. The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night will add extra punch for the Rangers. The Rangers did dropped a tough two goal loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night 5-3

#5 Tyler Seguin had two goals and an assist and the Dallas Stars made handy work of the Arizona Coyotes scoring four unanswered goals to hand the Coyotes a two goal 4-2 loss the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Stars Roope Hintz and Mike Heiskanen scored a goal each and goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots.

#6 Detroit Red Wings team captain Dylan Larkin who leads the Wings with goals and points could have very well been a free agent after this season but the Red Wings wanted to make sure he stuck around a little longer inking a eight year $69.6 million deal.

#7 Len, talk about the Boston Bruins just set a record tonight.

Join Len for the NHL podcasts each Thursday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Preds Johansen out 12 weeks; Caps Ovechkin returns tonight; plus more

The Nashville Predators will miss 12 weeks following leg surgery from an injury from Tue 14, 2023 game against the Vancouver Canucks Quinn Hughes whose skate cut Johansen on the right leg. (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen’s right leg got caught by the skate of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes which made contact on Johansen’s lower leg Tuesday night at 16:43 of the second period. Johansen had to be assisted off the ice. Johansen had to have surgery on the leg and will miss at least 12 weeks he could make it back for the first round of the playoffs.

#2 Alexander Ovechkin had missed the last five games with the Washington Capitals after his father Mikhail passed away at age 71 in Russia. Mikhail was a soccer player in his youth. Ovechkin is returning tonight in Anaheim against the Anaheim Ducks. Ovechkin said he looks forward to getting back to work. The Caps lost to the Ducks 4-2 on Thursday night for the Caps sixth straight loss.

#3 The Chicago Blackhawks in a trade with the Ottawa Senators acquired defenseman Nikita Zaitsev . Ottawa received two draft picks from Chicago plus future defensemen considerations. Zaitsev has 108 points, 18 goals and 19 assists in 426 regular season games with the Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. Zaitsev has five assists in 28 games with Ottawa this season.

#4 Len, the New York Rangers are looking to bolster their roster some more, as you know they picked up Vladimir Tarasenko from the St Louis Blues on Feb 10th and now their in talks with the Chicago Blackhawks about acquiring Patrick Kane. Rangers general manager Chris Drury said “Never say never’ regarding acquiring Kane.

#5 New Jersey defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime here’s one team who is interested in Patrick Kane.

#5 The San Jose Sharks Timo Meier remains one of the top sought after players before the trade deadline. The New Jersey Devils and the Carolina Hurricanes are inquiring about Meier’s services with the Devils being the team who want a long term deal with Meier but the Canes have said that would not be a prerequisite with them. Meier is currently hurt with an upper body injury and has been out since the second period of Sat Feb 18th’s game against the Buffalo Sabers.

6. Edmonton Oilers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2 as the Oilers Conner McDavid scored two goals tonight with 109 points leading the NHL.

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Leafs Samsonov stops 30 CBJ shots for shutout; Rangers Tarasenko breaks in with game’s first goal vs. Kraken

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, left, makes a stop in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner, right, and Maple leafs defenseman TJ Brodie during the second period at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Fri Feb 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs (32-13-8) goaltender Ilya Samsonov stopped 30 Columbus Blue Jacket (15-33-4) shots in the Leafs win over the Jackets 3-0 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Leafs John Taveras scored two goals in the win.

#2 What a little inspiration will do as the New York Rangers (30-14-8) Vladimir Tarasenko on the first night on the job for the Rangers scored the Rangers first goal of the night at 2:49 in the first period vs. the Seattle Kraken (29-18-5). Tarasenko who was dealt to the Rangers from the St Louis Blues is enjoying his new environment.

#3 Matt, the Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown is having his sweater number retired #23. Brown also had his statue unveiled at Crypto.com Arena, Brown’s statue also joins former Kings greats Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille statues outside of the arena.

#4 The Dallas Stars Jason Robertson is grabbing all publicity that he can he is fifth among US born players in points with 193 goals in 178 games. Robertson is fourth of US born players with 91 since joining the NHL in 2020-21. His teammate Joe Pavelski who is second of US born players has 435 goals.

#5 While the Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane says he’s intrigued about going to the New York Rangers. Kane feels that Tarsenko filled that void going from the Blues to the Rangers. How true is that and could Kane help fill a void in Madison Square Garden?

Join Matt Harrington for the NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com on Saturdays

Sharks Fall to Blackhawks 5-4 in Shootout

Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Strome (17) scores against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer, left, at the United Center in Chicago on Thu Apr 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Blackhawks in Chicago on Thursday. Patrick Kane, Taylor Raddish, Calvin DeHaan, and Dylan Strome scored for Chicago. Kevin Lankinen made 33 saves for the win. Timo Meier, Scott Reedy, Rudolfs Balcers, and Jaycob Megna scored for San Jose.

James Reimer made 28 saves in the loss. Going into the game, the Sharks had lost seven in a row and the Blackhawks had lost eight in a row. The win was fortuitous, as the game was the last for long-time (39 years) Chicago broadcaster Pat Foley.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner talked about missed opportunities in this game and other recent losses. He said he would like to know “how many breakaways we’ve had probably in the last ten games, either five-on-five, short-handed. Shoot-outs, all those situations, you know, two nights ago in Nashville, Tommy Hertl. We missed a few breakaways in Vancouver. So those are golden opportunities to shift the momentum and we haven’t been able to take advantage of that.”

Patrick Kane gave the Blackhawks a lead at 2:03 in a three-on-one attack. Kane, arriving at the side of the net received, the pass from Dylan Strome and tapped the puck over the line. Assists went to Strome and Alex Debrincat.

Timo Meier tied it up at 4:45. Brent Burns took a shot from the point. Tomas Hertl redirected it and it went off of a Chicago defender, bouncing right to Meier, who shot it in off of the far post. Assists went to Hertl and Burns.

Taylor Raddish scored for Chicago on the power play at 13:35 of the second period. Assists went to Seth Jones and Patrick Kane.

Scott Reedy tied it 2-2 at 15:53. Matt Nieto passed the puck to a trailing Reedy who took the shot up the slot through traffic. The puck went in off of the crossbar. Assists went to.

The NHL reviewed a play at 17:14 after the Blackhawks celebrated, thinking they had a goal. But Reimer twisted around to reach for the puck and sweep it out while it was still on the red line. Before play resumed, Nicolas Meloche and Jake McCabe seemed ready to fight but the officials intervened and gave them each four minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Blackhawks scored during the ensuing four-on-four at 18:42. Patrick Kane sent the puck at the net just as Calvin DeHaan was passing in front of the blue paint for a neat redirection. Assists went to Kane and Debrincat.

Dylan Strome made it 4-2 Chicago at 4:45 of the third. Four Blackhawks entered the zone, and four passed the puck across the ice before Strome took the shot from just below the circle. Assists went to Seth Jones and Alex Debrincat.

Rudolfs Balcers cut the lead back down to one with a goal at 5:40. With a scramble going on in front of the Chicago net, Balcers found the puck out front. He took his time to set up and shoot the puck up over the prone goaltender. Assists went to Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson.

Jaycob Megna tied the game at 16:35, after a flurry of shots from the Sharks late in the third. Megna caught a rebound at the bottom of the circle and shot the puck into the far side. Assists went to Meier and Hertl.

After a scoreless overtime, James Reimer saved shots from Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, but gave up a goal to Alex Debrincat. Kevin Lankinen stopped shots from Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson.

Alexander Barabanov did not skate after he took a body check early in the first period, but he returned for the second period. Radim Simek also left early the first period, returned for two shifts before the end of the period and then did not return for the second. Matt Nieto sustained an upper-body injury at the end of the second period but returned for the third.

The shot count was close in the first and second periods, 22-20 Sharks. In the third, the Sharks stepped on the gas and out-shot the Blackhawks 13-6. In OT, the Blackhawks had four shots to the Sharks’ one. In the face-off circle, the Sharks took a beating, winning only 36% of the draws.

The Sharks next play on Saturday in Dallas against the Stars at 5:00 PM PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks have the date circled ready to battle the Blackhawks Sunday

Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the Sharks podcast with Matt:

#1 The San Jose Sharks’ Marcus Sorenson scored twice on Saturday night as the Sharks and Joe Pavelski scored his 36th goal of the season.

#2 Sorenson was out for the last two game of the Sharks last road trip due to taking a puck in the face, but returned on Friday.

#3 Evander Kane has been getting banged up. In the game against the Boston Bruins on the last road trip, Kane got into a fight with the B’s Zdeno Charo, but Kane is battling.

#4 Erik Karlsson has been suffering with a groin injury. How’s his progress and also talk about Gustav Nyquist and what his acquisition has meant to the team.

#5 The Sharks host the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday and Patrick Kane has been playing lights out and Corey Crawford has been in the nets and some nights standing on his head.

Matt does the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

2019 NHL All-Star Game: Central Division Eliminates Pacific 10-4

Photo credit: @NHL

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The First round of the All-Star Game was between the Central and the Pacific Divisions, with the Central Division winning 10-4. The Pacific Division was coached by Bill Peters from the Calgary Flames, while the Central Division squad was coached by Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets. The coaches came from the teams with the best record up to the All-Star break.

The All-Star Game was broken into three parts, two Conference contests and a third between winners of those. The games were made up of two ten minute periods of three on three play.

The Central Division scored first, with goals from Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog against Anaheim’s John Gibson. Both were assisted by St. Louis’s Ryan O’Reilly.

San Jose’s Erik Karlsson got one back for the Pacific Division at 4:51 in a breakaway against Nashville’s Pekka Rinne. John Gibson got an assist on that one.

Nashville’s Roman Josi scored a third for Central, followed seconds later by a fourth goal from Chicago’s Patrick Kane. Kane assisted on Josi’s goal and Josi assisted on Kane’s.

A fifth goal came from Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele, assisted by O’Reilly. Gibson gave up a sixth goal to Rantanen, his second of the game. Patrick Kane also got a second goal, the Central’s 7th. That was 8:11 into the first period.

For the second period, the teams changed ends and goaltenders. Las Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury took over for the Pacific Division and Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk took the Central Division net.

Colorado’s Landeskog scored a second goal to start the second half, less than a minute into the period. He was assisted by Roman Josi. Fleury made a number of valiant saves before Ryan O’Reilly took the puck away from Brent Burns in the neutral zone. Fleury came way out of his net as if to steal the puck. He did not and O’Reilly went around him to score.

Yet another Central goal came from Landeskog, his third with about five and a half minutes left. Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler got an assist.

The Pacific Division got one back courtesy of Johnny Gaudreau with an assist to Connor McDavid at 4:47. They got another courtesy of two Sharks, Erik Karlsson assisted by Joe Pavelski. San Jose’s Brent Burns added a fourth goal for the Pacific Division at 5:52. Pavelski also got the assist on that one.

The Central Division squad went on to the second round.