Episode 605: The Nurse Log Jam & Free Agent Eve Blueprint

Episode 605: The Nurse Log Jam & Free Agent Eve Blueprint

The dynamic, hard-hitting duo of Dustin Nielson and former NHL netminder Joaquin Gage are strapped into their seats to deliver the rawest hockey talk in the market. The draft is in the rearview mirror, which means general managers around the league are frantically counting their couch cushions before the open-market frenzy explodes tomorrow morning. On Today's Show: The Darnell Nurse Saga — Gager's Perspective: The trade talk surrounding #25 is dominating the airwaves, but pulling off a contract maneuver of this magnitude is a massive, complex puzzle. Dusty asks the million-dollar question, and Gager puts his player hat on to deliver the blunt reality. Is it realistically possible for Stan Bowman to find a trading partner for Nurse's contract? Will Nurse be forced to expand his reported list of destination teams, or are the Oilers simply better off standing pat and keeping the veteran blueliner on the roster? Free Agent Frenzy Eve Blueprint: The open market officially detonates tomorrow at 10:00 AM MT. The fellas open up the wallet and map out the ultimate Oilers game plan. With internal extensions on the horizon and an incredibly tight salary cap environment, do the Oilers have the currency to land an impactful piece? Dusty and Gager debate realistic targets and lay out expectations for tomorrow's initial wave of signatures. League-Wide Trade Fallout: The boys pull out the macro-lens to scan the rest of the National Hockey League. Roster construction didn't wait for July 1st—a boatload of pre-draft blockbusters completely reshaped the competitive landscape over the weekend. The guys evaluate the early winners and losers of the offseason trades and track the moving futures odds. 2 Guys & a Goalie is presented by GS Construction!

Episode 604: Babcock Dust Settles + Oilers All-Time Best Draft Picks!

YouTube Trev steps right up to the main desk to co-host alongside former NHL netminder Joaquin Gage! The boys have a jam-packed hockey notebook to sort through as the NHL offseason hits absolute maximum velocity. On Today's Show: The Babcock Dust Settles: It's been a chaotic couple of days in Oil Country since Mike Babcock was officially named the 19th head coach in franchise history. Trev and Gager give their latest takeaways on the fallout, how the media availability is aging, and what immediate roster or system tweaks the new bench boss will look to implement first. McDavid Shares His Thoughts: Captain Connor McDavid was interviewed by Sportsnet and TSN, having lots to say about Edmonton's new head coach... What does he see from the grizzled veteran bench boss? How did McDavid and the rest of the Oilers' leadership group determine that he was the best option for the team? With players having their say in Edmonton, does that change anything about the coach-hiring process around the league? The Darnell Nurse Trade Watch: The smoke is absolutely not clearing around the blue line. As Stan Bowman frantically searches for salary cap relief ahead of free agency, the guys dive deep into the million-dollar question: Will Darnell Nurse actually get traded? Gager looks at it from a player's perspective regarding no-movement clauses, while Trev breaks down what a realistic destination and return look like if a blockbuster deal goes down. The Greatest Oilers Draft Picks of All Time: With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft kicking off this weekend, we are looking back at franchise history. YouTube Trev has conducted an extensive, deep-dive project to rank the single greatest draft steals and selections the Oilers have ever made. Trev rolls out his definitive list, and Gager weighs in on who deserves the crown as the ultimate draft-day home run. 2 Guys & a Goalie is presented by GS Construction!

Episode 603: Mike Babcock Is Officially Hired!

The news has officially sent a shockwave through the hockey world: Mike Babcock is the 19th head coach in Edmonton Oilers history. Dustin Nielson and former Oilers netminder Joaquin Gage fire up the microphones to break down one of the most controversial, high-stakes, and fascinating coaching hires in modern NHL history. After being cleared by the league following an investigation into his exit from Columbus, Babcock lands the keys to a championship-calibre roster in Northern Alberta. The boys pull no punches as they look at the hiring from every single angle. On Today's Show: Babcock & Smith Era Begins: Gager and Dusty go toe-to-toe on the hockey fit. Does Babcock's legendary, rigid defensive structure solve the Oilers' biggest flaws, or will his philosophy clash with the elite, high-octane offensive engine of this core? Moving the Needle: With a Stanley Cup, two Olympic Gold medals, and 700 career NHL wins on his resume, his pedigree is undeniable. But does his coaching style actually elevate a modern locker room in 2026, or is it a step backward? Walking a Fine Line: The spotlight will be blinding. The guys discuss exactly how careful Babcock has to be with his communication style and player management under the absolute microscope of Oil Country. Press Conference & Media Availability: We play the live audio from this morning's official introductory press conference. You'll hear directly from Stan Bowman, D.J. Smith, and Mike Babcock himself. Babcock looked back on his time in Columbus, his retirement, the hiring process in Edmonton and much more! Gager's & Dusty's Raw Reaction: As a former player, Gager looks between the lines of the media availability and reacts to the tone set by Babcock on Day 1. So much to break down from the long presser, and so much to question even though questions were answered. 2 Guys & a Goalie is presented by GS Construction!

Episode 602: BREAKING Oilers & Babcock News!

YouTube Trev steps onto the main desk alongside former NHL netminder Joaquin Gage! While other teams around the league are locking down their coaching staffs, the front office in Edmonton is facing a gridlock. The boys pull back the curtain on the real logistical nightmares facing Stan Bowman this summer. On Today's Show: Mike Babcock Clears: The NHL has closed their investigation regarding the 63-year-old's tenure with the Blue Jackets in 2023. They released a statement in the announcement saying, "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favourable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League." Are we just waiting for the Oilers to announce him as coach? Gager and Trev offer their take, discussing how Babcock's potential presence behind the Oilers' bench will impact the team. Coaching Bracket: The boys look at the remaining pool of candidates and debate why the Oilers are completely frozen in a holding pattern while the rest of the league moves forward. Trev gets Gager to make a bracket of available coaches the Oilers should hire. Hire It or Fire It: We close out today's broadcast with the absolute best segment in hockey media. The boys throw the latest off-season rumours, roster proposals, and trade pitches into the fire—deciding who is getting "Hired" and who is getting "Fired" immediately. 2 Guys & a Goalie is presented by GS Construction!

Episode 601: Darnell Nurse Trade Incoming? | Vegas Releases Tortorella

The Stanley Cup has officially been handed out, meaning the NHL off-season calendar is officially running at maximum velocity! Dustin Nielson is anchor-locked in the studio alongside former NHL netminder Gager to sort through a massive pile of burning questions in Oil Country... Now that there are no more pucks to be dropped on the ice, all eyes turn to the front office. Stan Bowman is staring down a chaotic summer blueprint—and the fellas are here to dig into the rumours. On Today's Show: The Off-Season Clock Is Ticking: The playoffs are completely wrapped, which means the regular-season safety net is gone. What is management's immediate priority this week, and how fast do they need to move before the NHL Entry Draft and Free Agency completely take over the league? The Darnell Nurse Trade Puzzle: The smoke hasn't even begun to clear from #25's shocking, formal trade request. Realistically, how do the Oilers actually navigate moving a massive $9.25M cap hit with a full no-movement clause? Gager and Dusty look at his rumoured 3-to-5 team destination list, debate how much salary Edmonton will be forced to retain, and look at what a realistic roster return looks like. Oilers Need A Coach: The silence out of 104th Street regarding the open bench seat is getting deafening. Now that the Vegas Golden Knights have officially been eliminated from the postseason, will Kelly McCrimmon finally grant the Oilers permission to interview Bruce Cassidy? Or is management stuck in a holding pattern while the league's Mike Babcock investigation plays out? The guys debate the timeline, the leading candidates, and who will ultimately pull the strings behind the bench next season. Of course, they touch on John Tortorella's release from Vegas... 2 Guys & a Goalie is presented by GS Construction!