The Rangers dealt Artemi Panarin to LA for former first-round pick Liam Greentree and a conditional third, a return shaped largely by his trade protection, which limited the market. The Rangers retained 50% of his salary for this season and extended him for two years at $11M AAV; Ray understands the move for LA’s scoring and power-play needs but questions why New York rushed the trade with time still available. Penn State star and projected 2026 top pick Gavin McKenna is facing serious assault charges, with few details known and no speculation for now. In Edmonton, a 4–3 loss to Calgary made it three straight defeats, leading Leon Draisaitl to publicly criticize the team — including himself — with Ray agreeing this looks like the weakest Oilers group of the past three years, plagued by goaltending uncertainty and a lack of depth beyond McDavid and Draisaitl. Looking at the playoff race, Ray doubts Toronto can find sustained consistency, and in the West expects one of Anaheim or Seattle to drop out, with LA the most likely Pacific team to sneak in ahead of Nashville and San Jose.

In Ask Ray & Dregs Anything we talk goalie fights, Moritz Seider's case for the Norris Trophy and players whose personal hygiene (or lack thereof) was weaponized on the ice.

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Sunday’s Tampa Bay vs Boston outdoor game delivered a true spectacle — great hockey weather, a goalie fight, and a wild Lightning comeback from four goals down — though not without controversy, as Boston bristled at the penalty disparity and power plays that swung momentum, even if, as Ray notes, the Bruins are among the league’s most-penalized teams. The game also raised Olympic questions with Anthony Cirelli injured and Brayden Point’s status looming, highlighting the rigidity of Olympic rosters where changes can’t be made once the tournament begins, prompting speculation about potential standby players flying to Italy, while Sam Bennett is banged up but expected to be fine and Zach Hyman’s name creeps into the conversation given his 50-goal-pace production and versatility. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid gave fans a rare, heartfelt glimpse into his mindset with his Players’ Tribune piece “Dear Canada,” a raw expression of his love for the game and a clear signal — especially to Oilers fans — of his desire to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. Barry Trotz announced he’ll step down as Nashville Predators GM at season’s end for family reasons, with the organization hoping to have a new GM in place by the draft, marking the first time in franchise history that neither Trotz nor David Poile will be involved. Plus, Ryan Rishaug checks in from Milano Cortina to talk facilities and schedule in advance of the Olympic Hockey tournaments.

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Artemi Panarin appears to be headed out of New York, with the Rangers reportedly shelving him through the Olympic break to protect the asset, and his no-trade clause giving him significant control as teams like LA, Washington, San Jose and possibly Dallas circle, with the expectation he wants an extension wherever he lands. In Toronto, the Leafs sit eight points out a wildcard position and face hard questions about whether it’s time for Brad Treliving to cut bait on depth pieces, with a critical western road trip looming. Ottawa, despite months of negative noise, has suddenly surged with statement wins over Vegas and Colorado, while the Avalanche’s recent skid feels like a natural correction ahead of a needed reset and healthier lineup. Meanwhile, Bryan Rust’s three-game suspension for elbowing Brock Boeser surprised some, with Ray arguing the length of penalty should be the standard for that type of play, regardless of a player’s reputation.

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The Edmonton Oilers made history with back-to-back hat tricks by defencemen; Bouchard and then Ekholm, the former now sits among the league’s top-scoring blueliners, after a typically slow start to the season. In Toronto, William Nylander was fined $5,000 for an ill-advised gesture toward a TV camera, a minor distraction but not enough to hide the Leafs’ returning inconsistency, raising questions about whether Brad Treliving needs to make a move with the Olympic break looming. Buffalo continues its surprising surge behind the league’s hottest goalie, Alex Lyon, forcing tough decisions on players like Alex Tuch as playoff hopes feel real for the first time in years. Winnipeg’s playoff fight hit another low after a 5–1 loss to Detroit, prompting a harsh postgame from Scott Arniel and renewed debate about whether the Jets should re-tool on the fly. Meanwhile, Vancouver’s injury woes deepen with Brock Boeser and Zeev Buium sidelined, in addition to growing concern that Thatcher Demko may be shut down to ensure he’s fully healthy for next season.

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Injuries to OEL, Brandon Carlo, and long-term absences like Chris Tanev have likely forced Brad Treliving’s hand in Toronto. Jackson Lacombe being named Seth Jones’ replacement on the United States Olympic Team may have raised some eyebrows—especially with Canada and Sweden delaying decisions—and sparked debate over why Lane Hutson wasn’t chosen instead. In New Jersey, Luke Hughes’ injury further complicates the New Jersey Devils season, potentially pushing Dougie Hamilton decisions to the deadline. The Anaheim Ducks appear back on track after a typical young-team swoon, while the San Jose Sharks continue their feel-good season after adding Kiefer Sherwood—though Ray cautions their defence may lag behind their forwards come playoff time. Buyers and sellers emerging in the West; Utah, Seattle, St. Louis, LA and Winnipeg all with big decisions to make.

Ask R&D wonders about Kelly McCrimmon’s risk tolerance and why the Edmonton Oilers can’t string together three wins.

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Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon in conversation! A busy few days of trades saw Vegas land Rasmus Andersson from Calgary after extension issues steered the deal away from Boston, continuing the Golden Knights tradition of bold swings. Vancouver moved Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose for draft picks and depth, giving the Canucks five picks in the top 50, while the Sharks add energy and puck retrieval. In New York, Chris Drury told Rangers fans the plan is to re-tool, not rebuild, but trade protection for Panarin, Zibanejad, and Miller complicates matters, and Panarin appears unlikely to return on a new deal. Matthew Tkachuk had a wild first game back, highlighted by a heavy hit and a rare Bobrovsky versus Nedeljkovic goalie fight, while Florida faces a playoff squeeze without Barkov for the rest of the regular season.

Then, Kelly McCrimmon joins the show to discuss the return the Flames got for Andersson, the impact that injuries have had on their season, the importance of Mark Stone, and the coming circus around Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto.

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The New York Rangers’ problems deepened with an 8–4 loss to Ottawa, their fifth straight defeat and 30 goals against, with J.T. Miller carefully noting the Sens were “more ready to play.” Injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox don’t mask bigger issues — the team lacks speed, the defence isn’t good enough, draft capital is thin. Restless fans at MSG are surely being heard by owner James Dolan, with Artemi Panarin’s expiring deal looming large. In New Jersey, Tom Fitzgerald owned the Devils’ struggles before an OT win over Seattle, a small but possible wake-up call as trade speculation around Dougie Hamilton continues. Buffalo stayed scorching hot, winning for the 14th time in 16 games while raising questions about Alex Tuch’s future and highlighting ongoing goaltending issues for the Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames appear headed toward a rebuild, with trade chatter surrounding Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri, and Blake Coleman, and a growing need to prioritize future returns.

Then, in Ask Ray & Dregs Anything... commish for a day, what else do broadcasters do while they're watching the game and colleagues on a desert island. Tough choices will be made!

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Brayden Point’s apparent leg injury has cast doubt over his Olympic availability with just a month to go, forcing Hockey Canada to game-plan potential replacements which will apparently be decided primarily by filling the same role as Point and there is an elite list of candidates. The Toronto Maple Leafs are surging with points in 10 straight, punctuated by an OT win in Colorado that snapped the Avs’ 17-game home win streak. The Eastern Conference is beginning to separate as hot streaks by Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Buffalo contrast sharply with the spiraling New York Rangers, whose brutal 10–2 loss underscored league-worst defensive play and looming roster uncertainty even for players with no-trade clauses. Coaching turmoil hit Columbus as the Columbus Blue Jackets fired Dean Evason after just 45 games and brought Rick Bowness out of retirement to stabilize a team undone by goaltending and late-game collapses, while the New Jersey Devils briefly quieted the noise by snapping a five-game skid with a road win in Minnesota amid ongoing debate over roster moves. Finally, renewed criticism of the NHL playoff format gained traction after Chris Mason highlighted how Western contenders are forced to eliminate each other early, a structure Ray argues undermines the regular season despite the league’s continued support of division-based seeding.

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