Two Man Forecheck

Episode 0259: Head Coaching Changes; Tuukka Retires; Cammi Hired by Canucks; Beanpot; Marchand; Flyers PUP list; B’s Prospect Pool and More!

Second weekend of February and the Olympics are upon us.  We talk head coaching changes in Montreal and Edmonton (Marty St. Louis and Jay Woodcroft respectively).  Tuukka retires after his body didn't respond to the hip surgery the way he had hoped.  We wish him much success in his future endeavors.  Cammi Granato has been hired as an Assistant GM for the Vancouver Canucks.  Congratulations!  We talk Boston Beanpot Tournament and T.J. Semptimphelter, Brad Marchand suspended 6 games, Flyers unable to perform roster is almost an entire roster and the Bruins Prospect Pool is ranked 27th overall.  Enjoy the Show and have a great weekend!

Episode 0258: Wirtz/Bettman Comments; All-Star Event Recap; Verbeek New GM of Anaheim; KHL Going to Playoffs; Potential B’s Moves; Staal ”C” of Team Canada; Coyotes Moving into ASU Arena and More!

With the All Star Break in full swing and the event completed, we await the Beanpot and return of the NHL.  Today we discuss the comments from Rocky Wirtz and Gary Bettman surrounding the Blackhawks' situation and it's link to Brad Aldrich.  We break down the All Star Event and the Skills Competition.  Anaheim has hired itself a new GM...Pat Verbeek.  Being the most surprising team this season, we touch on the future and what Verbeek will be dealing with, and we compare and contrast the Ducks with the Red Wings, Verbeek's previous employer.  The KHL is going straight to their playoffs after the Olympic break, which could leave many players looking for somewhere else to play for the rest of the season.  Eric Staal has been named captain of the Canadian Olympic Team.  Could the Bruins acquire both J.T. Miller and John Klinberg?  Finally, the Arizona Coyotes are turning to Arizona State University to play their home games for the next 3 seasons. Action packed, the episode provides much food for thought.  Give us a listen and Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0257: Panetta Suspended; Dell Suspended; Tkachuk In; Denver Homegrowns; PHF All-Star Game; Kane Signs; Julien Hurt; Giroux Available; NHL Prospects and More!

WeA are approaching the "Olympic break" and after that the All-Star break in the NHL so the trade deadline silliness looms close on the horizon.  We talk this week about Jacob Panetta, who was suspended by the ECHL, Aaron Dell, who was suspended 3 games for his hit on Drake Batherson and we touch on the hit by Taylor Hall on Nathan McKinnon.  We discuss Denver homegrowns in the NHL.  Brady Tkachuk will be taking Batherson's place at the All Star game, and it is deserved.  The PHF had their all star game last night (the 29th) but it was not very well announced or advertised.  Evander Kane has signed with the Oilers (as Mike predicted) and scored a goal in his first game.  Claude Julien has fallen and broken a few ribs.  Not coaching the Canadian National team, Jeremy Colliton will step in.  We talk Josh Ho-Sang, Claude Giroux and hockey prospects both currently drafted and those that could be drafted this summer.  Lots of content for your listening pleasure, so  Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0256: AHL, ECHL Incidents; Philly, Seattle Issues; Habs New GM; DeBrusk, Marchand; ’Hawks ”Untouchables” and More!

Almost through July and steaming toward the Olympic break, we keep on with the hockey talk.  Both the AHL and the ECHL have had incidents involving players making racial gestures at another player.  While Krystof Hrabik was suspended 30 games in the AHL, the ECHL is still conducting its investigation into Jacob Panetta.  We break down a list of players that have a $5m cap hit and have played less than 20 games.  Not a small list.  We talk Philly and Seattle issues and what to fix.  Montreal has a new GM, Kent Hughes, and we talk about the needs for the Habs.  DeBrusk is still a Bruin.  Marchand lives in the 'Canes' heads rent free and Chicago has 3 untouchables that don't include DeBrincat, Kubalik and Dach.  Could Evander Kane end up on the Caps? And finally, is Tuukka still "elite"?  So much to take in!  Tell us what you think and Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0255: Willie O’Ree; Wideman Suspended; Bergevin to L.A.; All-Star Snubs; Bennington, Grzelcyk, Byram; Kane, DeBrusk, Quinn Polls, Tyler Muszelik and More!

Willie O'Ree's number will soon be raised to the rafters in TD Garden in Boston, and it has been long enough.  We talk about his impact on youth and hockey as well as his effect on the NHL.  Chris Wideman has earned a one game suspension for a head butt, an infraction so egregious that you can be penalized just for attempting one.  The Kings are bringing in Marc Bergevin to be a senior advisor to the GM.  There are always all star snubs, but this season appears to have two that are over the top...Brad Marchand and Nasem Kadri.  Binnington is still the number one in St. Louis...why?  Matt Grzelcyk had himself a 5 point night.  Last time was by some guy named Bourque.  Bowen Byram is out indefinitely due to concussions and we wish him a full recovery.  Hopefully the Avs do not rush him back in any way.  We had 3 Twitter Polls out...Evander Kane to the Oilers, DeBrusk and Moore for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Quinn in Buffalo.  Finally we touch on Tyler Muszelik, goaltender for the USA under 18s who is draft eligible this year.  Lots to like, listen to and comment on, so let us hear from you and Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0254: Kane Contract Terminated; Flames Arena Deal; Coyotes Homeless; Rask is Back; Twitter Polls; Krejci is Puzzled; Standout Freshmen Defensemen and More!

The new year is behind us, the virus is around us and the NHL pushes on, so we will as well.  Evander Kane will have his contract terminated by the San Jose Sharks in another move to get the much maligned winger out of town.  His money will help re-sign Tomas Hertl among others this off-season.  Where could he land?  The Calgary Flames deal for a new arena has died and they will continue to play in the Saddledome, but at least they have a home.  The Arizona Coyotes will be homeless as of June 30th.  To quote the Glendale AZ city manager, Kevin Phelps, "We decided we weren't going to wait until the kids were out of high school to get the divorce."  The NHL could not get the owner of the Phoenix Suns to help out, and a new arena will take as much as 6 years to build.  Where will they be next season?  Tuukka Rask has signed a professional tryout with the Providence Bruins, but may not play for them before joining the big club.  David Krejci, who has multiple times stated that he will not be returning to the B's, is puzzled by the move of Pastrnak to the second line.  We break down 5 freshman defensemen around college hockey and the Twitter Poll from last week.  We also have a new Twitter Poll out for everyone to vote on.  Lots to comment on and interact with us.  Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0253: The Marchand Plan; USA Women’s Team; Evason Extended; Taxi Squads; Sea/Van Get It Right; WJC Cancelled; Oilers Big Blunder; Rangers Deadline Possibles; Sean Day; Metis Roelens and More!

The first show of the new year for the Two Man Forecheck and its full of stories (feel good and otherwise).  We start with the unhappiness of Brad Marchand at the NHL not allowing players to go to the Olympics and his plan.  USA has also released the roster for the women's Olympic team and there are many familiar names on it.  Dean Evason has inked a new 3 year deal with the Minnesota Wild.  We talk about taxi squads and their purpose.  The Kraken and Canucks honor a fan who helped out assistant Red Hamilton by giving her $10,000 toward medical school for pointing out a mole that turned out to be cancerous.  The World Juniors were cancelled for the men after announcing that the women's tournament was cancelled.  Could there have been backlash over cancelling one and not the other?  Dmitri Samorukov played in his first NHL game and only saw 2:28 of ice time before being benched for the remainder.  How much psychological damage have the Oilers done to this player?  There are many possibles on the Rangers for deadline day but we identify a couple of surprises.  Sean Day has finally broken into the NHL and the Maine Mariners have signed a 6'4" center from Belgium.  And some discussion about GMs.  So much to talk about this week...Enjoy the Show.

Episode 0252: IIHF Women Cancelled; IIHF Predictions; Eichel to Ducks?; Former Bruins Succeeding; Family Reunion; Kraken Mascot Reveal; Pause Extended; Twitter Poll and More!

With Christmas behind us, we focus on the new year and hopefully get back to the art of hockey.  The IIHF however has cancelled the women's U18 tourney, to be played in Sweden, and folks aren't happy about it.  There are always predictions regarding who will win the IIHF tournament but McKeens has taken it a bit further and voted on many aspects of the competition.  Before being traded to the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel was offered to the Anaheim Ducks.  The return on the deal was laughable and in need of conversation.  We break down four former Bruins who are succeeding in their new organizations.  The Fujimagari family was reunited after being apart for two years.  The Seattle Kraken will be revealing their new mascot via NFT, with only 32 owners.  A Twitter poll was put out asking what your team needed for the new year.  The results were interesting to say the least. Finally, the NHL has paused the season a little longer, but not yet into the new year.  We will be back with a new show in the new year, so Happy New Year everyone and Enjoy the show!

Episode 0251: NHL Pause; John Gillies; D Scoring; Kraken Swindle; Robby Fabbri; All Star Voting; Winter Classic; Brett Connolly; Jacob Chychrun and More!

With Christmas on the horizon and a new year set to begin soon, we delve deep into what's going on around the league.  The big news which we expected is that the NHL is going to pause until after Christmas at the earliest.  How long will this continue?  The Devils have utilized 6, yes 6 goaltenders this season, and we haven't reached Christmas yet.  The bigger surprise may be that this ties a team record.  Mike takes a deep dive into D scoring in the league and relates it to the Boston defense. Have the Kraken swindled their fans and the hockey community?  We attempt to answer this question.  Robby Fabbri has inked a new deal in Detroit.  Is he a 4 million dollar player?  The All Star Voting has begun and there are no surprises.  Will the Winter Classic be played?  We make our picks anyway.  The Office of Player Safety got it right (Mike admits this) with regards to Brett Connolly's hit on Tanner Kero.  Joe Haggerty writes that Jacob Chychrun will solve the B's biggest issue and we break down a deal posited by a commenter on an Athletic article about Boston's goaltending.  Merry Christmas to all, this is our gift to you!  Enjoy the Show!

Episode 0250: NHL Power Rankings; Gaudreau & Tkachuk; Benning/Green Out; Milestones; Jenny Potter; Vigneault Sacked; Bishop Done; Eichel Updates; Matvei Michkov and More!

Christmas is coming and for some teams that is a good thing as we point out in this week's episode.  There have been no major player moves to this point but we have seen Jim Benning fired.  Joining him are Travis Green and Alain Vigneault.  Bruce Boudreau is in for Vancouver and Mike Yeo for Philly.  We break down the NHL power rankings and identify a couple of surprises on the list.  Johnny Hockey will be a UFA at the end of the season and Matthew Tkachuk an RFA.  Can Calgary afford both?  Can they afford to lose either player?  A few milestones were hit and we talk about them.  Jenny Potter will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and it is much deserved.  Ben Bishop may be calling it a career as he has a degenerative knee injury.  Jack Eichel brings the good cheer to the Golden Knights and the U.S. Olympic teams as he has been seen back on skates and we talk about the young Russian, Matvei Michkov, who at 16 years and 11 months is one year younger than another famous player named Ovechkin when he made his first appearance on the Russian National Team.  The holidays are nearing so sit back and enjoy our gift to you...Episode 250!  Enjoy the Show!