The PuckPedia Hockey Show

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On Episode 22 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome musician and former TSN contributor Lester McLean. Lester writes the theme song for the PuckPedia Hockey Show so we wanted to start the episode talking about his inspiration behind the theme you hear each episode (2:30).

Then we get into Lester’s background, talking about how he grew up such a fan of the game of hockey but also had interest in the musical side of things (5:00). Then he talks about his lucky break meeting James Duthie from TSN and beginning to write music for some of the hockey wo...

On Episode 21 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome founder of The Pro Hockey Group and recurring guest Jason Bukala.

We wanted to bring Bukes on to preview the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota, the annual best-on-best hockey tournament featuring the best under-20 hockey players in the world (2:30). Jason’s scouting reports are on PuckPedia’s website if you want to read up on some of the players in this tournament (4:30).

We start by previewing Team Canada, who are the odds-on favorites to win the tournament this year (6:30). Gavin McKenna and Michael Misa are the...

For Episode 6 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the 2 massive trades in the NHL. Quinn Hughes was traded on Friday to the Minnesota Wild from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 1st Round Pick (4:45). This trade sent shockwaves around the NHL.

Keith & Hart break it down from a salary cap perspective, what this means for a potential Quinn Hughes extension in Minnesota, and what is next for Vancouver as they navigate a rebuild or retool (9:00). They also discuss the article written on ESPN from...

On Episode 20 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome the host of the NHL on ESPN and Sportscenter Arda Öcal.

We start off talking about his childhood and how his father raised him to grow up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, living close by to the old Maple Leaf Gardens (3:30). Then we started talking about how he wanted to get into broadcasting, and he idolized Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean growing up (4:45).

Then he took a normal day job for a few years while doing the broadcasting gigs on the side, until he e...

On Episode 19 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome on hockey media legend Jeff Marek, currently of The Sheet at The Nation Network / Daily Faceoff, and The Hockey Lifers with Bruce Boudreau on Monumental Sports Network.

Jeff brings us in a ton of different directions, much like his career. We start the show talking about how violence in hockey might be making a comeback (4:45). Jeff brings us down memory lane on the origin of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (8:00).

Then Jeff tells us about his background, how at the age of 8 he would go to...

For Episode 5 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the 2 contract extensions just recently signed. Ryan McDonagh signed an extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning for 3-years x $4.1M AAV. Then the Montreal Canadiens announced a 5-year x $6M AAV extension with Mike Matheson.

Then they talk about the recent injury to Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin and do a deep dive on how Dallas can fully optimize their salary cap if they place him on Season Ending Long-Term Injured Reserve. They also talk about the Vancouver Canucks and some questions around the...

On Episode 18 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we are joined by Stefen Rosner, beat writer for the New York Islanders at NHL.com, The Hockey News, and Elmonters.

We start the episode talking about Stefen’s background (2:15), growing up an Islanders fan, and how he was able to navigate a career covering the team he’s rooted for his whole life. We talk about the shift in vibes around the team with the transition from Lou Lamoriello to Mathieu Darche as General Manager (5:00).

Then we talk about the Islanders start to the season, boasting a 13-10...

On Episode 17 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we are joined by Steve Werier, former Assistant General Manager of the Florida Panthers.

Steve tells us about how he got into hockey (2:00), growing up in Canada, going to law school, then working at a law firm where the partners ended up purchasing the Florida Panthers. Steve then took on a role in Hockey Operations doing a bunch of behind-the-scenes work in 2014 before being promoted to Assistant GM in 2016 (4:00).

Steve tells us a great story of how the Panthers were weighing an offer sheet for Nikita Kucherov before...

For Episode 4 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the 2 contract extensions just recently signed. Adrian Kempe signed an extension with the Los Angeles Kings for 8-years x $10.625M AAV (5:00).

Then the Winnipeg Jets announced a 5-year x $5M AAV extension with Adam Lowry (10:25). Hart also breaks news that Victor Hedman has landed on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). He will be out a minimum of 10 games and 24 days.

Then they talk about trade protection in the NHL, and how almost two-thirds of the players in the league who are eligible for...

On Episode 16 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Steve Dangle, media personality and co-CEO of the Steve Dangle Podcast Network (SDPN).

Steve tells us about what it was like starting his YouTube channel in 2007 (2:15), making a video after every Toronto Maple Leafs game. He has only missed 7 or 8 games in the last 19 years. He talks about the grind of doing this for 6 years before people started to care (4:00).

He then tells us how that ended up landing his job at Sportsnet in 2013 (5:45), working there for about a decade. Then he goes into detail of...

For Episode 3 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the 2 contract extensions just recently signed. Shane Pinto signed an extension with the Ottawa Senators for 4-years x $7.5M AAV (3:00). This deal bought 2 UFA years and Pinto has a 10 team No Trade Clause in Years 3 and 4. The Colorado Avalanche also signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a 1-year x $2.5M AAV extension (7:30).  

Then they talk about the Edmonton Oilers cap situation with Zach Hyman about to be activated from LTIR. When Hyman is activated, the Oilers will need to clear $2.2M salary to be cap co...

We start the episode talking about the start of his hockey career (2:15), how a kid from Florida got into hockey. His parents had season tickets to the Florida Panthers and he went to his first game at 30 days old (5:30). Then started playing roller hockey and ice hockey at a young age, and left Florida to go to Connecticut to advance his career, then played in the BCHL before getting a scholarship and going to Quinnipiac.

Then he got drafted as an overager during his college career to the NHL by the Washington Capitals (9:00). He talks about his...

For Episode 2 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the entry-level contract slides for some of the young players in the NHL (2:30). Matthew Schaefer, Ben Kindel, Sam Dickinson, and Zayne Parekh have already passed the 10-game threshold and will burn a year off their ELC this season (5:00).

Other players like Michael Misa, Berkly Catton, Harrison Brunicke, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are close to that threshold but still remain with their teams. We also talk about why those players can't be sent to the AHL and have to go back to their junior teams (10:00).

We start the episode talking about Aaron's journey in hockey, at the club level at DePaul during college, then with a bunch of different teams in the CHL and IHL, eventually overseas in the Czech Republic and Poland, before returning back to North America (2:15). He talked about how he self-represented himself and how he helped a bunch of other players, which helped him build relationships with NHL and AHL executives.

Then he talks about going the legal route and doing law school (8:30), getting an internship with the Washington Capitals and starting the day they won the Stanley...

For Episode 1 of PuckPedia Cap Central, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh dive into the new contract extensions. Martin Necas re-upped with the Colorado Avalanche, as did Thomas Harley with the Dallas Stars, and Loogan Cooley with the Utah Mammoth.

They break down all 3 contracts and their structures, and why some opted for more signing bonus. They also talk about how last year’s talks with Mikko Rantanen might have impacted their urgency to get Necas locked up. This also tanks the upcoming UFA class for 2026, as now pretty much all of the big fish have extended with th...

On Episode 13 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Pete Blackburn, NHL media personality and host of What Chaos!

We start the episode talking about Pete’s journey in the sports media world at CBS Sports and Fox Sports before he landed doing what he loves, talking about hockey (2:00). Pete then goes into his lane in hockey media and how What Chaos! has carved their own niche, and how Pete’s Twitter presence complements his show (4:30).

Then Pete talks about working on the NHL Amazon series (7:15), and how impactful the Johnny Gaudreau episode in particular was...

On Episode 12 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Drew Shore, former NHL player turned NHL Agent with Wasserman, now on his own running his own agency and other entrepreneurial ventures.

We start the episode talking about how he got his start playing his hockey (2:00), and how his family with his brothers and parents helped him get started. Drew moved to Vancouver when he was 13 with a billet family because there was not much high-level hockey in Colorado where his family was located (4:15).

Then we talk about his junior career and be...

On Episode 11 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Chris Powers, one half of the Empty Netters podcast. We start the episode talking about how Chris and his brother Dan Powers started the Empty Netters, as they embark on season 4 (2:00).

They have a new venture with NCAA Hockey that will be starting this week so we touch on that and how they became UNH fans over Maine fans, even though they grew up in Maine (3:30). The NHL season is just underway so Chris gives his initial thoughts on the season. His Boston Bruins are off t...

On Episode 10 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Jonny Lazarus. We start the episode talking about Keith and Jonny's rivalry (1:15). Jonny does a quick thought on how the New York Rangers shape up hyping his new favorite player Noah Laba (2:45).

Then we get into our preview, starting with Jonny's favorite team, the New York Islanders (4:00). We talk about their new leadership group, starting with GM Mathieu Darche. First overall pick Matthew Schaefer will start the season on Long Island, Mat Barzal will look to bounce back this season starting the year at center (7:30). Then w...

On Episode 9 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome back founder of PuckPedia Hart Levine. We start the episode talking about the summer and how the month of August was relatively quiet on the NHL transactions front (2:30). 

We get into some of the recent signings (Mason McTavish - Anaheim Ducks and Anthony Stolarz - Toronto Maple Leafs), as well as the two unsigned RFA’s (Luke Hughes - New Jersey Devils and Luke Evangelista - Nashville Predators) (4:00). Then we talk about the site updates on PuckPedia that includes the new NHL Playoff Salary Cap (9:45) and how...

On Episode 8 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Jason Bukala, NHL Analyst on Sportsnet and NHL Network, and founder of The Pro Hockey Group. 

Bukes was boots on the ground at the NHL Rookie Games over the weekend. He kicks us off talking about the Montreal Canadiens, and particularly Ivan Demidov (3:00), who is the odds-on favorite for the Calder Trophy according to our friends at Coolbet. Jason also talks about some guys who could give Ivan Demidov a run for his money for the Calder (6:00), like Zeev Buium, Isaac Howard, Matthew Schaefer, and Michael Mi...

On Episode 7 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome David Ludwig, Assistant General Manager for the Utah Mammoth. We dive into some great topics with David. He went to undergrad at the University of Colorado before getting into law school at the University of Denver with the goal to become an NHLPA certified agent. 

He tells us his story of how he got his first job at an NHL agency with KO Sports and Kurt Overhardt (3:00). He interned there for 2 years before working there in a full-time capacity for 8 years. He touched all areas of th...

On Episode 6 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome William Kawam, NHLPA certified agent at ORR Hockey. We dive into some great topics with William. He talks about what it's like working at an NHL agency founded by legend Bobby Orr and agent Rick Curran. Then we shift gears to talking about his junior hockey career in the BCHL and the AJHL before transitioning to college at the University of Louisville. He then talks about getting rejected from every NHL team and NHL agency internship he applied for. William then got setup at a hockey academy in Banff, Alberta...

On Episode 5 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show, PuckPedia founder Hart Levine joins host Jonathan Davis for an in-depth look at the new NHL CBA. We get into how it could effect transactions going forward and how it may have affected this past year's Stanley Cup Final. Hart also touches on how LTIR and playoff cap will be different going forward. We wrap up the episode hearing about the changes to performance bonuses and qualifying offers.

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On Episode 4 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Ian Pulver, NHLPA certified agent and founder of The Will Sports Group. We dive into some great topics with Ian. His client K’Andre Miller signed one of the biggest deals this off-season with the Carolina Hurricanes for 8-years, $60M. We get into how that came about, but also the complexities of doing a sign and trade with his former team the New York Rangers. 

Ian also talks about his busiest time of the year in June and July, and what prep is like for the NHL...

For Episode 3 of The PuckPedia Hockey Show, Hart Levine and Keith Kavanaugh are live after Day 1 of NHL Free Agency! Hart talks about the Cap Cam on Daily Faceoff's live stream, as well as how he was managing the site with all of these signings coming through.

Then they recap some of the day's big signings. It started last night with Mitch Marner and his sign and trade to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The day kicked off with a trio of signings for the Vancouver Canucks. Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland, a...

On Episode 2 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome Hart Levine, founder of PuckPedia. Hart gives a brief introduction of why he started PuckPedia (2:00) and why all hockey fans should be using their best-in-class features. He was boots on the ground for the NHL Draft in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, and he goes over his thoughts on the de-centralized format (5:15). We also talk about the Noah Dobson trade from the New York Islanders to the Montreal Canadiens and why this deal might make sense for both teams (10:00). Then we dive into Free Agency, which starts on July 1 (16:15...

On Episode 1 of the PuckPedia Hockey Show we welcome on Jason Bukala, founder of the Pro Hockey Group. Jason talks about his experience in the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers Amateur Scouting Departments. He goes over what it’s like to interview top NHL prospects (3:30), insight from interviews with this year's prospects at the scouting combine (4:25), and a fun story about a future Hall of Famer from prospect interviews in the 2010's (5:35). We take a look if teams like the Chicago Blackhawks or Utah Mammoth might consider trading their first-round picks (6:45). Then we dive into the 2025 NHL Draft, why Ma...