Binnington/Hofer Mystery, Markstrom Lit Up, Jets Nosedive & Matthews Flips the Switch: Plus Ask R&D Anything!

Bizarre scenes in Chicago saw Jordan Binnington being told to leave the crease after giving up his 7th goal, but he stayed put as backup Joel Hofer was nowhere to be found. New Jersey’s 9–0 loss to the Islanders came despite dominating shots on goal, with Jacob Markstrom left in for all nine goals.…

WJC: Sweden Wins Gold, Canada Earns Bronze - No Summit Needed. Plus: Colorado on Top, then Parity Reigns.

Former NHL coach Dallas Eakins steps in for Ray, as he and Dregs tip their caps to the David Branch & Bob Pulford who both passed away over the weekend. Pulford, the Hall-of-Famer who was a four-time Cup champ with Toronto and veteran of 800-plus NHL games behind the bench, and Branch, the OHL Comm…

Hagel Returns, Leafs Find PP Success, Ingram's 3-Straight Starts, Barzal's Slash, World Juniors Updates & Olympic Roster Talk.

Brandon Hagel returns to the Lightning lineup. Mat Barzal gets 5 + a game for his slash on Marchment in defence of Schaefer. Canada captain Porter Martone earns unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after scoring an empty netter against Czechia. We're two days away from the Olympic Roster announcement. N…

Tim Hortons Olympic Roster Special!

An abbreviated Headlines looks at the Maple Leafs 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. Head Coach Craig Berube held very little back post game as the team looks for answers on the powerplay, but also in the compete and consistency categories. Then, Ray and Dregs unveil their choi…

Injuries with Olympic Implications, 2 Huge Trades, Leafs Need a Shakeup, Ask Ray & Dregs

A rough Monday night raised player-safety and Olympic concerns, starting with Brandon Hagel’s injury from a forearm to the head by Seth Jones—a play that drew no supplemental discipline, frustrating Tampa Bay and leaving Ray concerned about the message it sends and future tensions. In Dallas, Team …

Hand-Pass Headaches, Hellebuyck’s Hurry, and Patrick Kane’s Climb. Plus, Ask Ray & Dregs Anything!

A string of missed hand-pass calls leading directly to goals has the rule under the microscope, raising questions about why hand passes are legal in the defensive zone but not the offensive one. In Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck is back on the ice and facing shots earlier than expected, though Ray cau…

Olympic Ice Test, the Quinn Hughes Rumour Storm, McMann Melee, Avs & Stars are the Cream of the Crop.

On-ice testing in Milan is set for early January, with the building's completion now targeted for Feb. 2. There are concerns about the ice quality during testing in a building that may not be 100% sealed, and frustration from NHL owners who built their schedule around the Olympic break. In Vancouve…

Three Feet Short in Milan. Plus: Binnington Boils, Caps Roll, Leafs Look Up and Ask Ray & Dregs!

Confirmation that Milan’s Olympic rink has been accidentally built three feet short—an odd mistake Ray says won’t affect roster decisions, though the NHLPA’s threat to pull players if construction isn’t finished is seen mostly as pressure to keep organizers on schedule. In St. Louis, Jordan Binning…

Sharks Rising, Jets Falling, and Team Canada’s Big Decision(s)

The Sharks have surprised the league by sitting in a wildcard spot 27 games in, powered by 20-year-olds Macklin Celebrini—now second in league scoring behind Nathan MacKinnon—and Will Smith, though Ray still sees Anaheim as slightly ahead with better defence, size, and young depth. Team Canada face…

Ducks & Canucks Thriller, Vancouver Open for Business, Jets in a Funk, Matthews Returns, Ask Ray & Dregs!

Nikita Tolopilo stole the show for Vancouver with 37 saves in a last-minute start against the high-flying Ducks, whose fire-wagon style continues to delight fans and make coaches nervous. The Canucks also signalled they’re “open for business” on pending veteran UFAs. In Winnipeg, Scott Arniel says …