Previewing The Eastern Conference Playoffs

The playoff picture in the Western Conference is officially set as both the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild punched their tickets to the postseason earlier in the week. With that, Jason and Frank previewed each of the four first round series that we’ll get and gave their picks for each one.Before they got into the playoff talk, they quickly talked about a few teams who’s 2024-25 seasons were disappointments including the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings. They also talked about the San Jose Sharks season, which resulted in another last place finish but the guys talked about whether or not this year was actually a success.They then got into the two playoff series in the Central Division, starting with the much anticipated Stars and Avalanche matchup. The Stars are limping into the playoffs while the vibes in Colorado are immaculate with Captain Gabriel Landeskog expected to return to the lineup. Everyone seems to be picking the Avs, but are the Stars being a little overlooked?They also talked about the chances that the Winnipeg Jets make it a relatively short series against the St. Louis Blues. Can Hellebuyck find his form in the playoffs? Was the Blues heater a sign that they’re a legit threat to go on a run?Tyler then popped in for Fill in the Blank where he asked the guys about what the Flames could do this summer, Rick Tocchet’s future in Vancouver, the chances of the Predators moving a big contract, and what wild card teams could pull off an upset.From there, they got into the the Golden Knights vs Wild series, which both Gregor and Frank actually agreed on.They wrapped with a preview of ‘Oilers vs Kings Part 4’ and talked about whether or not this year’s Kings team is better positioned than ones in the past to finally slay the dragon and take down Connor McDavid and the Oilers.1:30 - Disappointing seasons6:50 - Are the Sharks getting closer?11:00 - Stars vs Avalanche21:30 - Jets vs Blues25:15 - Buy or Sell39:10 - Golden Knights vs Wild46:40 - Oilers vs KingsWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff?sub_confirmation=1You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are inching closer and closer to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and as the regular season comes to a close over the next few days, there is less and less on the line around the league. As a result, the four matchups in the Eastern Conference are basically all but locked up so today, Jason and Frank previewed each of the series.They started off with the battle between two Sunshine State rivals as the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in round one. It feels wrong that one of these two will have their season ended in just a few weeks, but the guys gave their picks.They then moved on to the Battle of Ontario as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will meet in round one. Are the Leafs finally ready to go on a deep run? Or could this pesky Sens team pull off an upset? Frank and Jason were actually split on this series.Tyler then popped in for Fill in the Blank, where he asked the guys about which eliminated team will look the most different next season and what Matthew Knies’ next deal could look like in Toronto.After that, they took a look at the two series in the Metro as the Canes will host the Devils in a series that Frank thinks could be a sweep. They also quickly talked about some potential goaltending decisions that a few teams will have to make before their playoff series begin.They also talked about the Montreal Canadiens’ chances of pulling off a major upset and taking down the conference leading Washington Capitals. The vibes are high in Montreal, but do they have the talent to beat a 100+ point team?1:10 - Rangers officially eliminated4:40 - Predictions gone wrong12:20 - Tampa Bay vs Florida20:40 - Toronto vs Ottawa30:10 - Fill in the Blank37:20 - Carolina vs New Jersey46:15 - Washington vs MontrealWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Frank Seravalli away for the week, Jason Gregor was joined by Daily Faceoff Prospect analyst Steven Ellis for today’s episode of The DFO Rundown. There was a lot of Jason to get to with Steven, who is one of the best prospect analysts in the game, as over the last two weeks, we’ve seen a handful of big-name prospects make the jump from college and junior to the NHL.They kicked off the pod by talking about the New York Rangers handling of Gabe Perreault, who left college but has been sitting in the press box for his first few games with the Rangers. They also talked about what the Flames could do with Zayne Parekh, who could make his debut before the end of the season.They also touched on the Chicago Blackhawks' next wave of young talent, whether or not Zeev Buium will play in the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild, and how much of an impact Jimmy Snuggerud could have with the Blues.The biggest news of the week though came from Montreal as the Canadiens announced that 19-year-old Ivan Demidov, the 5th overall pick from the 2024 draft, will be coming over from the KHL to join the team for their playoff run. Steven talked about his potential to be a true superstar and whether or not he can make an immediate impact with the club.Tyler then joined for a new edition of Buy or Sell where he asked the guys about a handful of teams who have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, the first confirmed playoff matchup, and whose stock Steven is buying ahead of the 2025 draft.To wrap, they talked about the insane season that Gavin McKenna is having with Medicine Hat and where he could end up next season.2:45 - The playoff picture4:00 - The Rangers' handling of Gabe Perreault6:20 - The Flames with Parekh & Suniev14:05 - Blackhawks' next wave of talent18:05 - The Wild & Buium21:00 - Demidov comes to Montreal24:10 - Blues & Snuggerud27:25 - European free agents33:30 - Buy or Sell43:30 - Gavin McKennaWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a historic weekend in the NHL, Frank and Jason decided to record this week’s edition of the podcast a little earlier. The two fired things up on a Sunday night to talk about Alex Ovechkin finishing his chase of the NHL’s all-time goal record as he found the back of the net for the 895th time and officially passed Wayne Gretzky at the top of the goal-scoring leaderboard.The guys talked about the moment on Long Island, the ceremony, Ovechkin’s career and everything else surrounding the record-breaking moment.From there, they talked about some other records and accomplishments that they’re love to see get accomplished. From Sidney Crosby to Connor McDavid to Cale Makar, there are some players who have a chance to do some pretty special things. That also led to some talk about just how much longer Crosby and Ovechkin will even be in the league.They also talked about some goal records that could be accomplished and some that are just way too crazy to be matched.Tyler then popped in for a new edition of Buy or Sell where he asked the guys about the Calgary Flames playoff chances both this year and beyond and also the playoff races in each conference.They wrapped up by talking about the memorabilia craze that followed Ovechkin’s chase of the record and they took a quick look at the two playoff races in either conference.0:55 - Ovi sets the record24:50 - Other records to watch27:05 - How much longer does Sid have?36:30 - Buy or Sell43:30 - The memorabilia blitz51:30 - Habs punch their ticketWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To kick off today’s edition of the DFO Rundown, Jason and Frank talked about last night’s wild finish between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes. There were over 140 penalty minutes in the game, but the moment that had everyone talking was Jalen Chatfield’s takedown of Connor McMichael during their fight. Did Chatfield go too far and could he face supplemental discipline? The guys debated that.From there, they talked about whether or not this Hurricanes team is built well enough to go on a deep playoff run. They also talked about the Maple Leafs heading into the playoffs and the Boston Bruins free fall in the final month of the season.That led to some draft talk and Frank has some ideas on how the league can improve the draft process. With the changes coming to the way that the NCAA allows players in, Frank thinks that now is the perfect time for them to change how the draft works. He explained his thought process and the trickle down effect that it would have on other leagues while Gregor poked some holes in his ideas.Tyler then popped in for a new edition of Fill in the Blank, where he asked the guys about the Art Ross trophy, Mitch Marner’s next contract, and the Cup Contender that they’re least bullish on.To wrap, Gregor talked about Gavin McKenna’s remarkable run in the WHL and where he could play next season. The tank for McKenna next season could be unlike any we’ve seen in the last 10 years.1:15 - Chatfield vs McMichael fight9:50 - Can the Canes go on a run?12:00 - Leafs clinch playoff spot19:25 - Bruins free fall21:40 - Frank’s Draft plans38:20 - Fill in the BlankWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank and Jason return with a new installment of the DFO Rundown. To get things started, they broke down the playoff picture in the West.The St Louis Blues are running away with the final wildcard spot as they continue a hot streak. The guys comment on if they have played their way into serious contender consideration. The Wild could be getting Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back from injury before the playoffs. The guys commented on the Wild’s playoff chances and the impact of a player like Kaprizov. What kind of contract extension will he sign? Frank thinks it could be one of the biggest contracts in the league. As they continue to analyze potential playoff teams and matchups, they focus on both Conference leaders. The Jets have had a spectacular regular season, but they’ve done that before. The guys ponder if they will be able to translate that success and make a deep playoff run. On the other side, the Capitals have lost 3 straight. The guys talked about how some adversity could be good for a team that has been so dominant this year.Staying on the east, the guys analyzed the tight playoff race. The Canadiens are holding on to a wildcard spot. Can they get across the line? The Blue Jackets continue to stay in the picture too, as the guys give their takes on who gets the last spot in the east.The guys also looked at some teams at the bottom of the standings. The Sabres have been sneakily hot to end the year. Frank gives his thoughts on if they should blow it up and rebuild regardless. The Blackhawks and Sharks continue to fight for the best lottery odds. The guys also speculate what Ryan Donato’s next contract looks like.The guys moved on to Hart talks and the dominance of Leon Draisaitl. Is there any chance he doesn't win it? The guys give their thoughts and list some dark horses.Pat popped in for Buy or Sell where he asked the guys about the Art Ross Race, Atlantic Division, and how deep the blues can go in the playoffs. To wrap it up, the guys looked at the Vegas Golden Knights, who continue to play well and lead the Pacific. Frank wonders if there is any team better prepared to contend than them.1:44 West Wildcard9:03 Conference Leaders (Jets & Capitals)13:08 East Wildcard16:11 The Bottom (Sabres, Sharks & Blackhawks)25:17 Hart Race31:51 Buy or Sell36:47 Golden KnightsWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To kick off a fresh episode of The DFO Rundown, Jason and Frank talked about the big breaking news of the day: John Tortorella is out as the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.Tortorella was in the third season of a four-year deal and the Flyers were having their worst season since he was hired. The guys broke down why the Flyers made this decision, debated whether or not his comments from earlier this week had anything to do with it, and discussed where the Flyers will go from here. Frank made the case that they are the team that is the furthest away from being Stanley Cup contenders.They then turned their attention to some other coaching situations around the league and talked about the cycle of hiring re-tread coaches in the league. Could that start to change? Frank talked about how organizations might need to change their mindsets when it comes to coaching.Tyler then popped in for a new edition of Fill in the Blank where he asked the guys about the playoff race in the West and the chances that not only the Calgary Flames get in, but the Minnesota Wild fall out of things. He also asked a question about which defensemen outside of Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar have a shot at the Norris Trophy in the next decade.1:00 - The Torts era ends7:00 - What’s the future like in Philadelphia?16:30 - The Coaching Market33:10 - Fill in the Blank (Flames, Wild & future Norris wins)Want to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank and Jason are back with a fresh episode of The DFO Rundown. To start things off today, they started talking about the idea that the NHL could potentially be once again looking at expansion.There has been lots of chatter about both Atlanta and Houston as cities that the league could potentially have interest in, but does going to 34 teams make sense? The guys gave their takes on that and Frank tried to explain why the league could want to get this done. They also had some fun tossing around the idea of relegation coming as well.From there, they talked about the Western Wild Card race as the St. Louis Blues continued their hot-streak and now control their own playoff destiny. Their turnaround this season also came after they hired Jim Montgomery, who came over from Boston. That led to some talk about how far away the Bruins are and if that front-office is going to make this through the summer.That conversation naturally turned to another front office that could be seeing some big changes this summer: the Buffalo Sabres. What’s the appetite for change in Buffalo? Frank gave some insight.Tyler then popped in for Buy or Sell where he asked a little bit more about front offices that could be changing, the future of the Sharks and Blackhawks, and the Hart Trophy race.To wrap up, they talked a bit about the Jets managing Connor Hellebuycks' workload and if the Jets are leaning too hard on him. They also talked about whether or not the Caps or Jets are better built for a long playoff run.0:40 - Expansion13:55 - Blues red hot run16:10 - Bruins front office25:30 - Sabres & Kevyn Adams32:30 - Buy or Sell43:20 - Hellebuyck’s workloadWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank and Jason are back for an all new edition of The DFO Rundown as Frank returned from the NHL’s GM Meetings. To start the podcast, they talked about the NHL’s penalty problem as Frank had a chance to ask some General Managers about the research that Jason did on the drop in penalties this season. Will the league do something to address this? Will they even admit there’s a problem?From there, they talked about what was discussed between the 32 GM’s earlier this week, starting with the future of the NHL All-Star Game. As it sits right now, there is a game scheduled for right before the 2026 Olympics, but could that change? Frank gave us the latest.They then talked about what could be on the negotiating table as the two sides sit down and try to find labour peace ahead of 2025. There seems to be a pretty high level of confidence that the two sides will be able to figure things out without much struggle.Tyler then popped in for Fill in the Blank, where he asked the guys about a couple of future record chases that the NHL could be seeing in the next decade and the chances of either Winnipeg or Washington going on a heater and getting to the 120-point mark this season.To wrap, the guys talked about Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky, which is coming right down to the wire. 1:10 - The NHL’s penalty problem9:00 - Future of the All-Star Game18:20 - The next CBA26:10 - Fill in the Blank37:40 - Ovi & the Gr8 ChaseWant to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank and Jason are back with a fresh episode of The DFO Rundown as the NHL’s playoff race continues to heat up. To start today’s show, they looked at some trade deadline additions that are fitting in nicely with their new clubs and a few that are off the rougher starts.That led them to some talk about the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Senators seem to have all but locked up their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but the eighth seed is still wide open. The Rangers are the betting odds favourites on Bet365 but both the Canadiens and Blue Jackets are right there in the mix.They also quickly touched on the Pittsburgh Penguins heater and how it’s costing them valuable spots in the NHL’s Draft Lottery standings.They then went out West, where Leon Draisaitl is on the verge of another 50-goal season. Jason talked about the significance of that while Frank wondered if Draisaitl has the Hart Trophy locked up or if Nathan MacKinnon should be getting more consideration.After that, Jason talked about his latest research project which is centred around the stunning drop in powerplays around the NHL. The numbers are jaw-dropping and led to the guys trying to figure out exactly why they have fallen as hard as they have.To wrap, Tyler popped in for a new edition of Buy or Sell where he asked the guys about the Senators chances of getting a divisional playoff spot, the Jack Adams award, and the upcoming NHL GM Meetings.1:00 - Trade deadline early returns5:25 - Eastern playoff race8:55 - Penguins heater11:40 - Draisaitl chase for 50 & the Hart24:20 - Powerplay drop off32:30 - Buy or Sell (GM Meetings, Jack Adams, Senators heater)Want to hear more from Frank, Jason and the entire DFO team? Subscribe to our YouTubeYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.