The PuckPedia Hockey Show Episode 41: The NHL Offseason Is About to Get Wild ft. Steve Werier
Episode 41 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show features a very special recurring guest, Steve Werier, former assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers and a friend of the program.
We kick things off with a quick look at the playoff picture (0:00). Steve breaks down what Carolina has built from top to bottom and why it shouldn't surprise anyone, while Colorado's struggles against Vegas are dissected with injuries and the Olympic break both playing a role.
Then we pivot to the coaching and management carousel that has dominated the offseason conversation (6:00). Steve gives his perspective on what went wrong in Vancouver and why the front office structure, not just the personnel, was at the heart of their issues, and what new GM Ryan Johnson can do differently.
We then discuss the Edmonton Oilers and their precarious situation with the Bruce Cassidy coaching pursuit (20:00), what happens if Vegas doesn't grant permission, and what the window really looks like for a team built around McDavid and Draisaitl.
We move on to the New Jersey Devils and their new general manager, the decision to keep Sheldon Keefe behind the bench, and what a healthy roster could look like next season (26:00). Then we get into the Nashville Predators and their long-running GM search, the potential domino effect if Chris McFarland leaves Colorado, and the broader landscape of progressive young hockey operations minds across the league (29:00).
We wrap up with the Coolbet question of the week: with a rising salary cap and new analytical minds in front offices, will we finally see offer sheets used aggressively this offseason and which players could be targets (34:00)?
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