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Dan and Shawn are joined by Mike Morreale, a staff writer for NHL.com and co-host off the "NHL Draft Class" podcast, to breakdown the top of the draft, reasons why forward Shane Wright, a center with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League, is projected to go No. 1 to the host Montreal Canadiens and why Slovakian left wing Juraj Slafkovsky of TPS in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland, could be a perfect fit for the New Jersey Devils at No. 2.  Morreale explains why he thinks forward Cutter Gauthier of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program could be a darkhorse to make it to the NHL quickly, perhaps even faster than forward Logan Cooley. The guys talked about several players who can become unrestricted free agents on July 13, including Filip Forsberg, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin and discussed the San Jose Sharks making history by hiring Mike Grier to be the first Black general manager in the NHL on Tuesday and the whirlwind that the 47-year-old must be in right now being at the draft one day after he was introduced by the team.

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika. They looked ahead at the questions facing the Avalanche in the offseason, including how they're going to handle the nine pending unrestricted free agents that played in the Stanley Cup Final. They talked about the Tampa Bay Lightning and if they're still in a championship window or if losing in the Cup Final means they're going to dip after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships ? The conversation turned to the offseason for other teams, including the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and what to make of the fact that pending UFA forwards Filip Forsberg and Johnny Gaudreau are still not signed.  They discuss the Detroit Red Wings and who they could hire as their next coach and  the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2022

Dan and Shawn are joined by Ross Colton of the Tampa Bay Lightning (15:00). Colton talks about the Lightning's response in Game 3, the speech that Steven Stamkos made after losing 7-0 to the Avalanche in Game 2, the pure skill of Nikita Kucherov, the mental and physical toll that a playoff run takes on a player and the reasons Jon Cooper is regarded as one of the best coaches in the NHL. The guys start the episode debating who the Avalanche should start in goal in Game 4 and wonder if Jared Bednar has made a mistake in how he's handled the messaging surrounding his goalies this series. They wrapped up the episode (32:00) talking about Dallas Stars hiring Peter DeBoer to be their next coach, Barry Trotz's future, Dan Bylsma getting hired by the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by ESPN analyst Brian Boucher (6:40). Boucher reacts to the OT win by the Avalanche in Game 1, discusses the reasons for Andrei Vasilevskiy's slow starts the last few series and explains why he's not worried about Darcy Kuemper's performance in Game 1. Boucher also talked about Jared Bednar's decision to stick with Kuemper after he gave up two goals in 48 seconds and gave a ringing endorsement for John Tortorella, saying that he'd be a great fit to coach the Philadelphia Flyers. The guys wrapped up the episode (32:30) discussing why Bruce Cassidy being hired to coach the Vegas Golden Knights is the right move, and gave reasons why John Tortorella going to the Philadelphia Flyers makes sense. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson (20:15). Johnson talks about his LONG journey to the Stanley Cup Final, how the Avalanche are dealing with a long layoff, the unique challenges that Cale Makar presents to opponents and a side of Nathan MacKinnon that people don't ordinarily see. The guys start the episode discussing the dominance displayed by the Avalanche, Cale Makar's Conn Smythe candidacy, wonder if the Edmonton Oiler's season should be considered a success and look ahead to the difficult decisions the Oilers have to make this off-season.  They wrap up the episode ranking the Coaching jobs that are currently open in the NHL and discuss who the best available coach actually is (35:00).... Barry Trotz or Bruce Cassidy? 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Joe Micheletti (20:00) to talk about the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Joe is calling the Lightning/Rangers series on national radio and talks about the NY Rangers development, the emergence of the "Kid Line", the home-ice advantage that MSG provides and the maturity that Igor Shesterkin has shown throughout the playoffs. He also looks at the Lightning, points out their resiliency and the emergence of Nick Paul. Joe has kept an eye on the Western Conference Final and also discusses the many storylines surrounding that series. The guys start the episode talking about the uptick in offense during these playoffs, debate whether Cale Makar is a top 5 skater in the NHL and rank the top performers during these playoffs. They wrap the episode talking about what's next for the Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues, and dissect the impact that Martin St. Louis could have on the Montreal Canadiens. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by former NHLer and current ESPN analyst Ryan Callahan (13:30) to talk about the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including Tampa Bay's sweep of the Florida Panthers, the dominance displayed by Andrei Vasilevskiy, the state of the Carolina Hurricanes power play, the difficulty of trying to score on Igor Shesterkin, Connor McDavid's otherworldly play, the questionable response that the St. Louis Blues had after losing Jordan Binnington to injury and Nazem Kadri's hat trick in Game 4. The guys start off the episode discussing where Andrei Vasilevskiy ranks among all-time goalies and whether or not the Panthers should move forward with Andrew Brunette as their head coach. They finish the episode discussing the lack of discipline displayed by the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 and whether or not John Tortorella would be a good fit to coach the Philadelphia Flyers.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter 

Dan and Shawn welcome in Turner Sports & Vegas Golden Knights analyst Shane Hnidy (16:00) to talk about the dominance displayed by the Colorado Avalanche, the crazy first game of the Battle of Alberta, life after Pete DeBoer for the Vegas Golden Knights and the high expectations surrounding the Knights already for next season. The guys start the episode discussing the Battle of Alberta, the missed opportunity for the NY Rangers in Game 1 and the most impressive players thus far in the playoffs. They wrap the episode dissecting the difficult off-season decisions surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. Plus, they look at another early playoff exit for the Toronto Maple Leafs and wonder if staying the course is really the best option for the franchise. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Darren Pang (18:53) to talk about all the Stanley Cup storylines, including Sidney Crosby's importance to the Penguins, Cale Makar's emergence as one of the NHL's best players, the Islanders deciding to pull the plug on Barry Trotz, why he would choose Auston Matthews to win the Hart Trophy and some of the reasons that there have already been 26 goalies used in the playoffs after 119 played in the regular season. The guys start he episode discussing the impact of Sidney Crosby's upper-body injury (4:00) and the role it could play on the series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers and the potential fallout if the Edmonton Oilers lose to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (14:55). They wrap up the episode wondering what the future holds for the New York Islanders (40:00) and pondering whether the Montreal Canadiens would trade the top overall pick in the NHL Draft (48:57).

Dan and Shawn are joined by Tom Gulitti (20:00), NHL.com's Washington-based staff writer who is covering the series between the Capitals and Florida Panthers. Gulitti discussed what he saw from the Capitals in their 4-2 in Game 1 and what things the Panthers have to address before Game 2. They also talked about the Oilers' need for depth scoring and for goalie Mike Smith to play a more simple game to give his team a chance to win.  Rosen and Roarke started the podcast with their thoughts on the Penguins 4-3 triple overtime win in Game 1 against the Rangers..... they praised Louis Domingue for his 17-save performance in relief of Casey DeSmith and Sidney Crosby for taking over the game in the second period. They wrapped the episode by discussing Bruce Boudreau's future in Vancouver, the Flyers letting Mike Yeo go, and what the Vegas Golden Knights will do with Pete DeBoer (41:45). 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL Network's EJ Hradek (21:45) to dive into the reasons why the Golden Knights missed the playoffs and talk about the goaltending concerns facing the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs and Penguins. Hradek also discussed the Los Angeles Kings/Edmonton Oilers matchup and why the Kings will present a challenge for the Oilers. The guys started the episode with breakdowns of the two first-round matchups that are currently set, the Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues and the Kings vs. Oilers. Listen for Roarke's rant on the Toronto Maple Leafs (57:00), his reference to the Titanic, and both of the co-hosts talking about the Boston Bruins (1:03), giving reasons why they may be the most dangerous underdog in the first round. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Mike Johnson (13:00) to talk about Alex Ovechkin's consistency, the goalie injuries to Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry, the Western Conference playoff race, Robin Lehner's confidence and the unpredictable nature of the Eastern Conference come playoff time. The guys start the episode marveling at Alex Ovechkin's 50-goal season and dissecting the recent success of the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. They wrap up the episode talking about their predictions for the Hart, Norris, Calder and Vezina Trophies.. of course, there's some disagreements along the way. They dive deeper into the goalie issues facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes, and pay tribute to Mike Bossy.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by NHL.com's Toronto-based staff writer Mike Zeisberger, who talks about the pressure on Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs to finally breakthrough in the playoffs (4:00). He also provides some thoughts on some of the comparisons that are being made with Auston Matthews to some of the League's great players (Ovechkin, Lemieux, Lindros). The conversations shifted to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the question of if we're starting to see the end of their reign of dominance (21:00). The guys broke down the Western Conference playoff race, with all three questioning if the Los Angeles Kings have what it takes to fend off the Vegas Golden Knights and clinch a playoff spot (32:00). Rosen asked if a team would prefer to play the Colorado Avalanche or the Calgary Flames in the first round and Zeisberger discussed what he saw from covering Owen Power in the rookie defenseman's NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres (55:00). 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour (25:41). He talks about the art of shutting down games, the high powered offenses of the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, the state of the Hurricanes heading into the Playoffs, the stabilizing force that Freddie Andersen has been for the Canes and how he defines the qualities that the winner of the Hart Trophy should exhibit.  The guys start the episode talking about whether the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Oilers can be successful in the playoffs with their style of play and the importance of being able to shut down games come playoff time and they compare Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, wondering if Matthews is being overlooked as the best player in the NHL. They close out the episode talking about Roman Josi's chances of winning the Hart Trophy, answer a mailbag question on the Norris Trophy race and reflect on Ryan Getzlaf's retirement announcement. 

Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke were joined by Amalie Benjamin (15:25), NHL.com's Boston-based staff writer, who discussed her recent visit to Vancouver to report on and write about the new-look Canucks' executive staff complete with Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato, the first two women assistant general managers in NHL history. Benjamin discussed her interviews with Castonguay and Granato along with conversations she had with Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, the first Swedish GM in NHL history, and Jim Rutherford, Vancouver's president of hockey operations. Benjamin also discussed the Bruins (32:00), the team she covers most for NHL.com. She touched on the immediate questions about goalie Jeremy Swayman and how he will handle the pressure of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, and hit on the future of center Patrice Bergeron, who is 36 years old and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.  Rosen and Roarke also had a breakdown of the race in the Western Conference (9:00), specifically the Pacific Division, and gave reasons why it's hard for them to believe in any team besides the Calgary Flames. They talked about goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's impact on the Minnesota Wild since his arrival in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks (5:00). The Wild have won seven in a row, including five straight since Fleury got to Minnesota. The co-hosts also gave some thoughts on the news that came out of the NHL General Managers' meetings (56:00) this week and the passing of Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who died Monday night. He was 62 years old (58:00). 

Dan and Shawn react to all the moves made leading up to and on NHL Trade Deadline day. They each share their thoughts on the Wild acquiring Marc-Andrew Fleury, discuss the impact of Giroux's decision to waive his no-movement clause to go to the Panthers and what that says about Florida as a destination for NHL players. They discussed the New York Rangers and the impact of adding forwards Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte, and defenseman Justin Braun. They dissect the moves made by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken. They also discuss why the Edmonton Oilers didn't make a bigger splash.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Tom Gulitti, NHL.com's Washington-based staff writer, joins co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke for the entire episode, giving perspective on Ovechkin scoring his 767th goal to move past Jaromir Jagr and into third place all time (2:00). They also talked about the Capitals being 5-0-1 since general manager Brian MacLellan said the team may be less aggressive at the Deadline (12:00) and went into detail on the Vegas Golden Knights' struggles and reasons why they've lost five straight games (18:00).  Who are the Claude Giroux suitors? Will Giroux accept a trade? The guys ponder these questions and also discuss the future of the Philadelphia Flyers (34:00). The Maple Leafs goalie issues are discussed and Dan believes that the team needs to make a move for a defenseman (57:00). Are the Vancouver Canucks sellers? What will the Florida Panthers do at the Deadline? and what are some dark horse teams that will make significant moves? All these questions are asked and answered on this Trade Deadline preview edition of NHL @TheRink.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter. 

Dan and Shawn are joined by Tage Thompson (21:47). The Buffalo Sabres  leading scorer with 42 points talked about the return of Jack Eichel to Western New York, the growth of the team under Don Granato, some of the keys to his success on the ice and his journey from a youth player to the NHL. In addition to the interview with Thompson, the guys focused on Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin catching Jaromir Jagr (7:04) for third all-time in goals with 766, Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews' push to score 60 or more goals this season (11:53), New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin's candidate for the Hart Trophy (49:40) and the New York Islanders plans at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline (44:00). Follow @TheRink on Twitter  

Dan and Shawn are joined by Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin (21:50). Bill talks about whether he's concerned about the Wild's recent 4-game losing streak, explains how he's looking at his team as the Trade Deadline approaches and marvels at the emergence of Matt Boldy. He talks about some of the teams that have impressed him this season, including the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche and is convinced that the Wild can compete to win a Stanley Cup this season. He remembers what the Trade Deadline was like as a player and explains how his perception of the deadline has changed as a GM. The guys start the episode discussing the Blackhawks hiring Kyle Davidson as their GM and the decisions that Davidson will have to make with Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. They also dissect the Washington Capitals and ponder whether they should be buyers at the Trade Deadline. They wrap up the episode debating whether the Toronto Maple Leafs have a major issue at the goalie position and who the best U.S. born player is that's under 23 years old; some interesting picks by Dan and Shawn.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter  Rate & Review on podcast platforms

Dan and Shawn are joined by former Nashville Predators goalie and current Predators broadcaster Chris Mason (6:30). Mason reflects on Pekka Rinne's legacy, the growth of Nashville as a hockey market and the anticipation of this weekend's Stadium Series. He discusses what makes Rinne so special and the reason why the Nashville fanbase adores him so much. He also talks about the trade rumors surrounding Filip Forsberg, the state of the Predators and the reasons for Juuse Saros' success. Dan and Shawn dissect a bunch of other NHL storylines (30:30), including Zdeno Chara's milestone, their Super 16, and the trade deadline market.  Follow @TheRink on Twitter