Episode 9: CHL President Dan MacKenzie, the Continuing Evolution of the Junior Hockey Landscape, and a Kelowna Shuttle Confrontation

Episode 9: CHL President Dan MacKenzie, the Continuing Evolution of the Junior Hockey Landscape, and a Kelowna Shuttle Confrontation

Sean is in beautiful Kelowna for the Memorial Cup. Robert is still in Dallas (where the Rangers got no-hit on Monday). We open (1:00) by talking about Sean's adjusted sleep schedule, the crazy playoff tiebreaker possibilities at the Memorial Cup, how to determine how tall hockey players really are, and sports bucket list items. Sean then sits down (42:01) with CHL President Dan MacKenzie to discuss what he learned from his time with the NBA, a year under the new NCAA rules, and how the various junior leagues are working in an era of expanded player choice. The guys wrap up (1:07:10) by discussing the last couple weeks' of conversations with CHL and USHL folks, and how junior hockey (and NCAA hockey) might change in the coming years.

Episode 8 - Glenn Hefferan, the USHL Landscape, the Vegas Way, and the Private Side of Public Relations

Robert remembers the name of the show. Sean grits his teeth while praising the Arsenal Football Club. First, (5:30) the guys talk a bit more about Jason Robertson, Kirill Kaprizov, and how contract comps work in different markets. We then move on (20:31) to the fallout from Vegas and John Tortorella's whoospadoodle. Next, AI Hockey welcomes (37:10) Glenn Hefferan, President and Commissioner of the USHL to talk the Clark Cup Final, his relationship with the commissioners of the CHL, how the USHL develops both players and officials, and what makes a league the right one to be in for players on a college hockey path. Robert and Sean wrap up (1:21:05) by talking about Bruce Cassidy, Kelly McCrimmon, and how a organization's culture shows up in all the different choices it makes.

Episode 7: Kyle Stich, Jason Robertson's Next Contract, and How The Rock Pretzel-Bunned a Film Franchise

Robert finds out about a goat named Skubal. Sean's wifi holds up until a late-episode storm rolls in. The guys open the show by talking about offseason sports viewing (6:30). Sean announces his running project to watch every Fast & Furious movie. Sean and Robert then discuss Jamie Benn's legacy (20:40) and what options Dallas has to treat him and the team right at this point, and then the guys talk about NHL awards voting, and why you're doing it wrong. Kyle Stich of AFP Analytics joins (58:00) to discuss how projecting NHL contracts works, whether Jason Robertson is likely to actually reach arbitration with any team, and how the NHL landscape has shifted (and not shifted) in surprising ways in recent years. The guys wrap up (1:57:00) by throwing out gut feelings about Jason Robertson's eventual contract and LAN cables.

Episode 6: Bruce Boudreau, Troy Bodie, AHL Lessons, and a PWHL Team Launch

Sean drives to the top of a parking garage. Robert gets to hear an Alex Ovechkin story. First (11:20), the one-and-only Bruce Boudreau joins the show to talk about the award named after him, how his AHL career ended, comparing tough playoff goalie decisions, the Russian Machine, and how Boudreau liked to mess with reporters. Sean and Robert then (57:45) discuss the tricky parts of press conferences, dignity and dialogue, as well as the PWHL announcement in Detroit. Finally, (1:30:20) Troy Bodie of the Seattle Kraken and the GM of the Coachella Valley Firebirds joins the show to talk about launching a new AHL team in the desert, playing for Randy Carlyle, why he decided to retire at 30, and some Memorial Cup memories from his days in Kelowna.

Episode 5: Kelly Forbes, Florian Wieser, Independent Hockey Media, and What Justin Abdelkader Did

Sean and Robert kick things off by magnanimously acknowledging that you are allowed to walk up and give them envelopes of cash at any time. Former NHL video coach Kelly Forbes then joins the show (11:45) to talk about his career in Dallas, how the job of a video coach changed after the coach's challenge, what it was like working for seven different Stars head coaches, how he decided to step away from hockey, and why his phone blew up on Tuesday night. Recent winner of the Italian hockey double Florian Wieser then stops by (1:09:15) to talk about his long and successful hockey career in Italy, why the Milan rink drama was overblown to begin with, memories of playing against current and former NHLers, North American vs. European hockey coaches, and whether he wants to be a really shouty coach himself (he does not). Finally, (1:50:35) Sean wraps up the show by putting Robert on the spot, and the guys talk about the tough-but-great decisions independent media members have to make.