39: Behind the NHL Schedule with Steve Hatze Petros + Hockey Talk with Adnan Virk

Following Gavin McKenna’s high-profile commitment to Penn State, John Shannon welcomes CHL President Dan MacKenzie to discuss what the decision could mean for the future of junior hockey in Canada. The two explore the potential ripple effect of McKenna’s move—dubbed the “McKenna Effect”—and how it may reshape player development and league dynamics across the CHL. Later in the show, Glenn Healy, Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association, joins John to break down the newly announced NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. Together, they examine how the Alumni Association could quietly emerge as one of the key beneficiaries of the new deal, and what this means for former players moving forward.

14 Jul 51min

It’s the final day of Alumni Week from the NHL Alumni Association’s Golf Tournament, and next week, John and Daren return to regularly scheduled — and wind-free — programming. To close out the week, Mark Napier, Ben Scrivens, Jeff Beukeboom, and Matt Cooke join the show to reflect on their time in the NHL, share thoughts on their former teams, discuss future coaching ambitions, and more. A relaxed, insightful finish to a great week on the course.

10 Jul 38min

Day two of Alumni Week takes us back to the NHL Alumni Association’s Golf Tournament, where John roams the course catching up with Brad May, Pierre Larouche, and Guy Carbonneau. From Sidney Crosby’s future with the Penguins, to the rise of NCAA hockey among Canadian prospects, to some classic broadcasting stories with John — today’s episode is full of great hockey conversation, straight from the fairways.

9 Jul 34min

Alumni Week kicks off with John flying solo from the NHL Alumni Association’s Golf Tournament — recorded right on the course. On today’s episode, John chats with three former Toronto Maple Leafs: Rick Vaive, Steve Thomas, and Darcy Tucker. From the fairway, they share stories about playing in Toronto, the pressure that comes with wearing the Leafs jersey, and their thoughts on where the team stands today.

8 Jul 28min

Mike Zeisberger joins the show for a full breakdown of the opening day of NHL Free Agency. July 1st didn’t disappoint, with big names on the move and big money being spent across the league. Mike, Daren, and John sort through the signings, share their thoughts on who nailed it—and who might regret it—and hand out their early verdicts on the winners and losers of Day 1 of 2025 Free Agency.

2 Jul 56min

Lane Lambert joins the show to talk about his new role as head coach of the Seattle Kraken. After years of experience as an assistant, Lane discusses the transition to leading a bench and what he plans to bring to a Kraken team aiming to become a consistent playoff contender. From coaching philosophy to expectations in Seattle, it's a great look at what’s next for one of the NHL’s newest franchises.

30 Jun 35min

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly joins John and Daren to reflect on what Daren calls “the best NHL season ever.” From league-wide growth to on-ice storylines, Daly shares his thoughts on the year that was, looks ahead to the upcoming NHL Draft, and discusses the continued evolution of the league. With a new CBA announcement expected soon at the time of recording, the guys do their best to pull some insight out of him—while also touching on potential expansion franchises and what’s next for the NHL.

27 Jun 50min

Vernon Krause—the man leading the charge to bring the NHL back to Atlanta—joins the show to give us a rare inside look at the expansion process. From timelines and potential locations to the motivation behind the push, Vernon lays it all out. Plus, John and Daren get an exclusive hint at what the team might be called if the dream becomes a reality.

25 Jun 53min