The Nation Network
Jason Gregor is joined by Jeff Marek on Monday's and Mike Rupp on Friday's to bring you the latest from around the hockey world with inside scoops, analysis, and debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2h ago
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp! The Buffalo Sabres have a four-game winning streak, a new GM, and now sit five points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. Rupper thinks a playoff push would be detrimental in Buffalo, while Gregor believes they have some good pieces and are better than their record suggests. Do they go the San Jose route and rebuild, or the Nashville route and re-tool with veterans? Can Jarmo Kekäläinen change the culture in Buffalo and get the Sabres back into the playoffs soon? Sitting third in points behind Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, has Macklin Celebrini punched his ticket to Team Canada? He currently has San Jose in a playoff spot, and the guys believe he would be the Hart Trophy winner if the Sharks make the postseason this year. Can the second-year forward beat out the likes of McDavid and MacKinnon for the award? John Klingberg is enjoying a career resurgence with the Sharks this season. His mobility looks closer to his prime years, and his offensive game is starting to shine alongside San Jose’s young core. A physical and mental reset has allowed Klingberg to flash the star form he once showed in Dallas. Connor McDavid’s hot streak is in full steam ahead. The Oilers captain has 14 points in his last five games, and any rumblings that McDavid had fallen off have quickly faded. Once again, he’s proving he’s arguably the best player in the world. Rupper recounts his time in Pittsburgh, where Sidney Crosby was constantly striving to improve—even after winning the Stanley Cup. Taking more faceoffs, improving defensively, shooting more, and doing anything possible to become a more complete, big-moment player. Nathan MacKinnon continues his shooting barrage as he leads the league in shots on goal. McDavid has seen an uptick in shooting during his hot streak, and Celebrini is climbing the list as well. The guys examine some of the league’s top volume shooters and a few surprise leaders in shooting percentage, including one of the biggest up-and-comers in the scoring race, Morgan Geekie. Edmonton’s offense is starting to roll as they head into the Christmas break, with no more road games against Eastern Conference teams remaining. With Tristan Jarry injured, is there renewed concern in the Oilers’ crease, and what will they do if he’s out long-term? Pat joins the show for Fill in the Blank : The percent chance Alex Tuch stays in Buffalo is ___ The Minnesota Wild are missing ___ to truly become a top contender The team to win the regular season in the East will be ___ Olympic roster predictions are in from Rupper and Gregor, starting with Rupp’s Team USA selections. Cole Caufield is out, while Brock Nelson makes the roster up front. Despite his season in Anaheim, Cutter Gauthier was never in consideration for Rupp. There are no changes on defense, and while Seth Jones was strongly considered, Rupp couldn’t find a spot for him. With Connor Bedard injured, Gregor slots Brandon Hagel in as his replacement. Would Bo Horvat be on the roster if he weren’t injured? Evan Bouchard’s improved defensive play earns him a spot, while Thomas Harley drops off as he continues to struggle after returning from injury in Dallas. Jordan Binnington remains on Gregor’s roster based on merit and his Four Nations performance—but could his poor NHL play push him off the team by February? Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4d ago
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek! The Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild kicked off the weekend with a blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes. Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, and a first-round pick went to the Canucks. A great return for the Canucks, but how will Buium develop and can Vancouver hit on the first-round pick? Can the Wild resign Quinn Hughes? With the addition of Hughes, the already top-heavy Central Division just got a lot more lethal. Who's going to finish atop the division and are their more moves to come? The guys discuss if Dallas with the Seguin cap space, could make a big move to counter the Hughes trade. The Pittsburgh Penguins had a rough weekend blowing two multi-goal leads late in games to fall in overtime against the Mammoth and Sharks. With Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak's visa issues sorted out, how do the pieces from the Jarry trade slot in on this Penguins team looking to stay in the playoff race in the Metro? Connor Bedard suffered an upper-body injury late in the Blackhawks game against the St. Louis Blues. Marek compares it to the Josh Norris injury and the guys discuss if this injury could deter Canada from bringing the young forward to Milan. Matt Barzal of the New York Islanders is in a similar spot as an injury this weekend could see him out for some time right before the Olympic roster announcement. Barzal has had a great season on a surging Isles team, and the center was looking to see his name called for a spot in Milan. Will this injury cause Team Canada management to go another direction? The wildcard races in both conferences continue to be a logjam of teams who can't separate themselves to take full control of their situations. With multiple teams hovering around the playoffs, which teams currently in spots will lose out to teams on the outside looking in? The San Jose Sharks look to be ahead of their timeline, currently holding onto a playoff spot but can the young core keep the momentum going to play meaningful games down the stretch or is it too early for the Sharks to be in playoff contention? Pat joins the show for another edition of Buy or Sell: Can Columbus make the playoffs? Will there be another big goalie trade? Can the Colorado Avalanche break the single season points record? The guys end the show with some non-hockey related content following the death of acclaimed film director Rob Reiner. Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp! We start the show with breaking news out of Edmonton as they addressed their goaltending acquiring Tristan Jarry. The move was shocking as they gave up Stuart Skinner, a second, and Brett Kulak. Can Jarry solidify the Oilers crease? The New Jersey Devils have slid down the Eastern Conference standings since the Jack Hughes injury. Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom have had major issues in goal after Allen started hot this year. A discussion of if the Devils could win the Metro, has now turned into a discussion on if they can make the playoffs. Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes have struggled behind a defensive unit that is still going through growing pains. Jacob Fowler looked spectacular in his NHL debut stopping 36 of 38 shots in a 4-2 win. Can Fowler take the reigns of the Canadiens' crease? The Winnipeg Jets have struggled without Connor Hellebuyck and in the ultra-competitive Central Division, have the Jets slid out of the playoff picture in the West or can they claw back into a wildcard spot? Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Logan Cooley will be out for at least eight weeks, and the Utah Mammoth might be at risk of missing the playoffs again after a soaring start. Is Andre Tourigny on the hot seat or will the Mammoth make a trade to shake up the room? Bo Horvat had a scary fall in the Islanders game and early rumours say he'll only be out short-term. Will Horvat be in contention for a spot on Team Canada if healthy and can the Islanders keep rolling if their star forward is out long-term? Injuries have plagued the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, but they're still atop the Atlantic Division. Brayden Point has had a down year so far in Tampa, but could a hot stretch be on the horizon for the Lightning center? Brandon Bussi has been a great story for the Carolina Hurricanes as he is 10-1-0 in his 11 starts. Picked up off of waivers, Bussi proves the goaltending position's volatility and unpredictably. Will Bussi be the answer for the Hurricanes' postseason goalie struggles? Connor McDavid was on a "slump" but over his last four games he's kicked it into high gear. The Art Ross race between McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon is now heating up. The line shake-up in Edmonton has sparked the Oilers captain's offensive fire. Pat joins the show for another edition of Fill in the Blank: The next big name on the move is ____ or the next team to make a move is ____ ____ will finish last in the NHL this season At +240 to make the playoffs the Skinner/Jarry trade ____ their chances Mid-season goalie trades are not common, but how will the Skinner/Jarry trade play out for both teams? Gregor believes the Oilers are still in the market for another goalie before the deadline. Will Skinner resign in Pittsburgh for less than Jarry was making? Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 8
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek! Logan Thompson continues to pull ahead for Canada’s Olympic starting job after a 39-save shutout against Jet Greaves. Trouba’s hit on Ryan Leonard sparks debate, with both hosts calling it clean, and they break down Tom Wilson’s response. They discuss whether the NHL should schedule more two-game city stops after Chicago’s back-to-back in L.A. Phillip Danault’s offensive dip raises questions about his trade-deadline value, while Tyler Seguin’s season-ending injury could push Dallas into a big deadline move. The Sabres sit at the bottom of the East again—what’s next? Pat joins for Buy or Sell: Avs or Stars for the Cup Final, Penguins or Flyers for the playoffs, and Crosby chasing the age-38 scoring record. The show also touches on changes to the Foster Hewitt Award, Ottawa’s slide, Calgary heating up before a possible fire sale, and whether Shane Wright can find his footing as Seattle cools off. Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp! Rupp and Gregor start the show off by talking about the competitive nature of the West and the parity of teams in the East. The Florida Panthers are now 7 points out of the playoffs with a demoralizing loss to the Nashville Predators last night. Lots of key injuries but will the return of Matthew Tkachuk be enough if they end up 10+ points out of a playoff spot come January. Sergei Bobrovsky has struggled for the Panthers this season and in a contract year, what's the future like for the Russian goaltender? Next, it's the Stanley Cup finalists in the West, Edmonton. A rough start to the year but a massive win over Seattle sees them pushing towards relevance in the Pacific Division race. The Kraken lack top talent, and the guys dissect Seattle's moves from the expansion draft to present day. Is there a team that needs a top-3 pick more than the Kraken? Calgary and Nashville have started to drag themselves out of the basement and Vancouver now see themselves at the bottom of the NHL standings. Could the Canucks be the first piece to fall on the trade market and blow it all up? Pat joins the show for Fill in the Blank with questions like: Jesper Wallstedt needs to ____ to win the Calder The Rocket Richard winner will have ____ goals The ____ will be a surprise team to miss the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Are Carolina and New Jersey in trouble with their current standing in the Metro? Rupp and Gregor look into some of the top pests in the NHL. From Brad Marchand to Mason Marchment, who are some of the guys who excel in getting under the skin of their opponents? Lastly, Rupp recounts some stories from his days in the NHL, some of the pests of his era, and some advice for young players looking to play the role of a pest. Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 3
Irfaan and David are back with Episode 9 of the DFO Rundown Insider Edition. What is going on in Vancouver? From the dragging Kiefer Sherwood situation to rumours around Dale Talon, Vancouver takes centre stage on today's show. The guys also make stops in Seattle and LA before checking in on the Habs and Islander who both could be dipping into the trade market. Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon. Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! 00:00 - Intro 01:03 - The Sherwood situation is dragging on longer than expected 06:18 - What are the Kraken trying to do? 09:28 - LA still looking to add scoring 11:26 - Montreal looking for a netminder? 15:16 - NYI looking to replace the injured Palmieri 18:49 - UPL on the move out of Buffalo? 22:08 - Dale Talon taking over in Vancouver? Not so fast... 27:49 - Irf's weekend picks 28:34 - Wrap up If you liked this, check out: 🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow 🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401 🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom 🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army 🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner 🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with us on ⬇️ Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff 💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com 🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff 💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoff Daily Faceoff Merch: https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 1
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Jeff Marek! Marek opens the show by diving into the Vezina conversation, following up on the debate between Rupp and Gregor about which young goalie could win one first. Marek sides with Rupp, choosing Lukas Dostal — noting that Anaheim appears to be the closest to contention among the young-goalie teams. In Vegas, Carter Hart has been recalled by the Golden Knights. His numbers in Henderson weren’t impressive, and the rust is still evident, but the guys debate what his impact could be — and how fans and players alike may react to the polarizing goaltender’s return. The Flyers have been another surprise, backed by strong goaltending from Dan Vladar. Trevor Zegras, meanwhile, has shown real growth since arriving in Philadelphia, and the guys dive into his shootout wizardry and newfound maturity. St. Louis struggled early with defensive breakdowns and shaky goaltending, sinking them to the bottom of the Central Division. They appear to be stabilizing now — but can they realistically dig their way out of the early-season hole? The President’s Trophy chase between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche sparks a debate about who has the better shot at the Stanley Cup. Gregor leans Stars — and wonders whether Dallas could look at Mason Marchment if Seattle becomes a deadline seller. The Jets, meanwhile, are 1-4-0 without Connor Hellebuyck, and the Central’s top three are pulling away. Marek stresses Winnipeg’s need for a true second-line center. Can the Jets tread water long enough to stay in the Wild Card race? With the Leafs’ playoff odds sitting at just 11%, the guys debate whether Toronto can climb back into the race — or if the season is already slipping away. In Tampa Bay, John Cooper has turned the ship around. The Lightning are back atop the Atlantic Division, with Vasilevskiy, Point, and Kucherov heating up. Gregor and Marek both see Vasy as a major Vezina contender at this point in the season. Lastly, the Predators could become one of the league’s most intriguing sellers. Which player is their most valuable trade asset? Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Juuse Saros, and Steven Stamkos headline the list of potential deadline chips, and the guys lay out ideal landing spots for a few of them. Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 28
Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jason Gregor and Mike Rupp! We start the show with a quick recap of Rupper’s Thanksgiving yesterday. The Vancouver Canucks have opened up their veterans to the trade market. Which players do Gregor and Rupp think are most likely to be moved out of Vancouver? And what will happen with the most polarizing trade piece of all, Quinn Hughes? The Edmonton Oilers have seen major regression on the defensive end, going from an above-average defensive team to one of the worst in the league at insulating their goalies. What moves can be made to solidify the Oilers’ crease? The guys dive into options like Tristan Jarry and Jordan Binnington. Gregor asks Rupp which young goaltender in the NHL has the best shot at earning a Vezina nomination—or even a win. Askarov, Dostal, Knight, and Wallstedt are all showing out to start the season. Which of these four would you bet on to get the first Vezina nod? The Winnipeg Jets are 0-3-0 since losing their Vezina-winning goalie, Connor Hellebuyck. How concerned should Jets fans be? Pat joins the show for another edition of Fill in the Blanks : Comrie needs to ____ to keep the Jets afloat Hellebuyck at +2500 can win the Vezina if ____ The next team to become a seller is ____ A surprise buyer at the deadline is ____ The guys highlight the parity in the league right now and the tight playoff race as we pass the U.S. Thanksgiving mark. Rupp talks about Scott Wedgewood and how team defensive metrics can help goalies achieve better numbers than expected. Lastly, will the Colorado Avalanche chase down the Bruins’ points record? And if they cruise to the Central Division title, would it affect them come playoff time? Want to hear more from Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Connect with us on ⬇️ Twitter Instagram Website Daily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.