We dive into the NHL awards finalists on this week’s show. Offering up our predictions on who we think will take home hardware at the end of this season. We even sprinkle in a few thoughts on who should win in a few cases where we think the voters may go in a different direction. Along the way we offer a brief NHL Qualifying Round preview, with a deeper dive coming next week and we also chat a bit about the Blue Jays and Buffalo as a potential home for the club.
The Instigator Podcast
The Instigator Podcast Interview Featuring Julie Stewart-Binks
Julie Stewart-Binks, host of Drinks with Binks and Call it a Night with Julie Stewart-Binks on fubo Sports Network joined the show this week for a wide ranging conversation that touched on everything from the NHL bubble, qualifiers and Premier League soccer.
We discuss how COVID-19 has altered the landscape for how sports are going to be broadcast in addition to how her shows have been affected by coronavirus as well. Along the way we touch on NHL hub cities, the pros and cons of how sports may return and get a deeper look into the two shows Julie hosts on fubo Sports Network.
You can catch Drinks with Binks on the fubo Sports Network on Friday’s at 8:00 or 24/7 on www.fubosportsnetwork.com as well as Pluto, XUMO, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Vizio, and to subscribers to fuboTV. If you want to learn more about fubo and fuboSN, visit www.fubosportsnetwork.com or follow them at @fubosports on social. Also, be sure to follow Julie on Twitter and enjoy the show.
The Instigator Podcast 8.30 – NHL Return to Play Schedule Reported as CBA Extension Looms
With new news being reported about the schedule the NHL will be following for completing the 2019-20 season, we run through the key dates for the coming months on this week’s show. This includes the schedule for the qualifying round and playoffs, when the offseason will begin and when the 2020-21 season is set to start. We run through the entire schedule and how it could affect not just the end of the 2020 season, but how the coming year could look due to fatigue, rust and other extenuating circumstances. Also on the show are segments on Lindy Ruff’s hiring in New Jersey, Judd Brackett being hired by the Wild and the report that Rick Dudley won’t be coming to Buffalo.
The Instigator Podcast 8.29 – Who Should the Sabres Pick at 8?
The NHL Draft Lottery yielded a surprising yet utterly predictable result for the first overall pick. On this week’s episode we discuss the fallout from a placeholder team winning the top pick and Buffalo’s outlook at eighth overall. We also touch on Rick Dudley surfacing as a potential hire for Kevyn Adams’ front office and a new wrinkle in an interesting summer for the Pegulas.
The Instigator Podcast 8.28 – Draft Lottery and the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020
A quick episode this week highlighting the looming draft lottery, what the Sabres have in store in the top 10 of this year’s draft and a brief conversation on Alexander Mogilny missing out on the Hockey Hall of Fame yet again.
The Instigator Podcast 8.27 – The Fallout of Jason Botterill’s Firing
It isn’t controversial to say Jason Botterill’s job should have been in jeopardy given the Sabres results during his tenure. But just weeks after giving him a vote of confidence, the Pegulas abruptly fired him and replaced him with Kevyn Adams, a decision that left many scratching their heads. What followed was an unprecedented house cleaning that saw scouts, development coaches and Rochester’s staff let go. We discuss all of this and look ahead at Adams’ difficult task on this week’s podcast.
The Instigator Podcast 8.25 – NHL Beginning to see Coronavirus Impact
As coronavirus causes cancellations throughout the global sports scene, we spend some time this week discussing just how things are going in North America and what impact the NHL will eventually see as governments and health organizations around the world attempt to curb the spread of the virus. We discuss the short term impacts already in place such as limiting locker room access and the potential for the Sharks to play in an empty building. We also explore the larger impacts should things get worse and the league is forced to see multiple games (or even playoffs) played without fans. This week’s show had to get cut a bit short so I tried to make up for it by running through a few thoughts on potential college free agent targets at the tail end of the episode.
The Instigator Podcast 8.24 – Featuring Goalie Gear Nerd
Goalie Gear Nerd, one of my favorite follows on social media, joined the show for the second time so we could run through some of the latest news and innovations in goal equipment. We speak about his new website http://www.goaliegearnerd.com and also spoke about David Ayres and the NHL’s emergency backup goalie system and what changes, if any, would need to be made to it.
The Instigator Podcast 8.23 – Kahuna Matata: NHL Trade Deadline Review
In one of the most eventful trade deadlines in years, the Sabres made a pair of moves as they attempted to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Jason Botterill acquired Wayne Simmonds and Dominik Kahun ahead of Monday’s deadline, picking up a rental and a potential long-term addition for his club. We discuss some of the larger moves made around the league on Monday along with what the larger implications are for the Sabres after acquiring Simmonds and Kahun.
The Instigator Podcast 8.21 – Sam, Skinner and Shakeups
Should Jeff Skinner be reunited with Jack Eichel? Is it imperative for Sam Reinhart to play away from Eichel? Is it odd that after seeing two coaches shuffle Buffalo’s lines “too much”, Ralph Krueger has been hesitant to alter his top unit? We tackle a number of topics related to Skinner’s goal scoring struggles, and how the Sabres might best optimize the top six in a way that would get Skinner back on track and determine if Reinhart can indeed drive his own line.
Two in the Box 