Andrew Berkshire joins the podcast to talk about Zach Bolduc's season, progression and why he is needed in this Canadiens team. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
\nPlanning a Montreal Canadiens pilgrimage? Unlock the ultimate guide to experiencing a Habs game at the Bell Centre without breaking the bank. Discover the best times to score tickets, prime seating options, tips to navigate restrictive bag policies, and how to make the most of your visitwhether youre coming with family or friends. Laura Saba highlights essential travel advice for Canadiens fans, from tackling Montreals winter, neighborhood hotel picks, and transportation hacks to maximize your stay. Dive into cant-miss local eatspoutine, smoked meat, and iconic bagelsplus recommendations for family-friendly activities and nightlife hotspots. Wondering where to catch the playoff buzz or run into hockey insiders? Get the rundown on fan-favorite pubs and cocktail bars steps from the action. Your Montreal Canadiens bucket list starts heredont miss these insider secrets for the ultimate hockey getaway. 00:00 Traveling to Montreal for a Habs game 03:29 Finding Canadiens Tickets 08:25 Bell Centre seating and bag policy 11:40 Using FanDuel for college football 14:01 Safety tips for staying in Montreal 18:00 Kid-friendly activities for fall visits 23:10 Visiting the botanical garden 24:24 Visiting kid-friendly spots 28:00 Discussing poutine recommendations 30:40 Favourite places to eat out 34:58 Favourite Montreal food courts 37:07 Dining Out: Tasting Menu Favourites 41:28 Sharing travel recommendations 43:58 Locked On NHL updates Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms https://link.chtbl.com/LOCanadiens?sid=YouTube Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Find Locked On Canadiens anywhere:https://lintr.ee/LockedOnCanadiens Also make sure to follow Locked on Canadiens and their hosts on Bluesky! Locked on Canadiens: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedoncanadiens.bsky.social Find Ian on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/maybeitsian.bsky.social Find Laura on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theactivestick.bsky.social #NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
\nTampa Bay Lightning face a pivotal season: get past Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs or face major questions about their core. Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down the key factors, from Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point rediscovering postseason form to the need for a more adaptable power play and greater home ice advantage at Club BMI. Are new additions like Ilya Mikheyev and breakout candidates like Dominic James the answer to depth concerns? The hosts spotlight Cale Makar's record $20.4M AAV contract, ranking it against league bests like Brandon Hagel and Kucherovs team-friendly dealswhile naming Jonathan Huberdeau and Elias Pettersson as possible contract busts. Plus, the outlook for the New York Islanders: can Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer lift them to playoff contention in a wide-open Metro Division, or is this another year of mediocrity? Dont miss this high-stakes Lightning preview and NHL contract debate. 00:00 Lightning Playoff Hurdles 10:21 Islanders Roster Breakdown 18:17 NHL Contracts: Best & Worst Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
\nWhat does it really mean to grow the game of hockey?Is it getting more kids to pick up a stick? Building more elite teams? Selling out professional arenas? Or is the real work making sure that once a young player discovers hockey, they feel like they belong enough to stay?On this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee Elias, Mike Bonelli, and Olympic gold medalist and PWHL Walter Cup champion Hayley Scamurra dig into what growing hockey actually looks likefrom grassroots programs and community outreach to the small choices coaches, parents, organizations, and players can make every day.Inspired by Lees recent experience helping introduce hockey to young players in Puerto Rico, the conversation explores why simply putting a stick in a kids hands isnt enough. There needs to be a pathway forward. In this episode, we discuss: Why hockey can belong anywherefrom traditional rinks to Puerto Rico and beyond The difference between expanding elite hockey and truly growing the grassroots game Why retention matters just as much as recruitment How cost, equipment, ice access, and early specialization can shrink the game How coaches can make girls feel like hockey playersnot outsiderson co-ed teams Why welcoming a new family at the rink can have a bigger impact than you realize How PWHL players and professional athletes inspire new players simply by being visible and accessible Why older players helping younger teams can build stronger athletes, better people, and deeper organizational identity How fun, belonging, community, and connection keep kids coming backHayley also shares what she sees when young girls encounter professional womens hockey up closeincluding the story of a young player who started hockey after watching the Minnesota Frost play the Ottawa Charge in Raleigh.And the message is simple: you do not need a national platform, professional title, or massive event to grow hockey.A coach can invite younger players onto the ice.An older team can help at a learn-to-play session.A parent can introduce themselves to the new family standing alone at the rink.A player can make sure the new kid gets the pass that leads to their first goal.Those moments matter. The challenge: Find one thing you, your team, or your organization can do this season to make hockey more welcoming, accessible, and fun for someone else.And if you can, go watch a PWHL gamelive or from home. Let the next generation see what is possible.If this episode gets you thinking, share it with a coach, parent, player, or hockey leader who can help grow the game in their community. Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: Growing Girls Hockey Starts With Something Bigger Than RecruitmentHave a story about how youre growing hockey where you live? Send it to team@ourkidsplayhockey.com and keep the conversation going.#OurGirlsPlayHockey #GirlsHockey #WomensHockey #GrowTheGame #YouthHockey #PWHL #HockeyParents #HockeyCoaches #GirlsInSports #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyCommunity #WomenInSportsHave A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!Follow Us On Social Media:Facebook GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube
\nOn Episode 667 of Spittin' Chiclets, the boys break down the Metropolitan Division with help from some special guests; Jody Shelley, Colby Armstrong, Spencer Carbery, and Sunny Mehta. This is an episode you won't want to miss. 00:00:00 - START 00:00:31 - Chiclets Updates 00:23:43 - Around the League 00:51:53 - Rangers & Islanders 01:13:28 - Spencer Carbery/Caps 01:57:35 - Hurricanes 02:04:38 - Colby Armstrong/Pens + Flyers 02:42:22 - Sunny Mehta/Devils 03:40:02 - Jody Shelley/CBJ 03:57:01 - RAs World Support the Show: PINK WHITNEY: Go get a bottle of Pink Whitney. Pinkies UP! RHOBACK: Go to https://Rhoback.com and use code SPITTIN for 20% off your first order. SHELL: Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline. More power. More performance. In gasoline direct injection engine fuel injectors with continuous use of Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline. Compared to lower octane fuels. Actual effects and benefits may vary according to vehicle type, driving conditions and driving style. See shell.us/more for more details. DRAFTKINGS: So head to the app store now, download DraftKings Casino, and use code CHICLETS to get started. Then play five to unlock ONE THOUSAND total spins over your first twenty days. Spin your way on DraftKings Casino. The Crown is Yours. In partnership with DraftKings Casino.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/schiclets
\nAllow myself to introduce… myself. Yeah, I know – I just used a 20-year-old Austin Powers reference on a hockey blog. If you’re walking into a new locker room, you might as well do it with a little swagger and some self awareness. I’ve been a diehard hockey fan since I was a kid in western Pennsylvania. I watched Mario Lemieux come back from the dead twice. I watched Jaromir Jagr break my teenage heart by taking his talents to Washington. That heartbreak eventually turned into Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby bringing the Penguins back to glory. The Igloo felt like church when I was a kid. The Penguins weren’t just a team. They were my passion, even when they were losing 50 games per season. I always had a soft spot for the Lightning, too. As a kid it was Darren Puppa in No. 93. Then it was Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis: opposite builds, same ability to take over a game, and they complemented each other perfectly. They were easy to root for. I was in Sarasota in 2004 when Tampa Bay won it all. My grandpa – the man I’m named after – was bouncing between Sarasota Memorial and Tampa General, and I flew down that June to be closer to him. We watched the game from his hospital room. I’ll never forget it with the Lightning as the protagonist. That summer he sold his house in Pennsylvania, and one by one my family started moving here to be near him. Life happened again in 2011. My grandpa got terminally sick, so I packed up everything I owned and moved to Tampa at 22. This place instantly felt more like home than Pennsylvania ever did. I was still a Penguins fan first then, but the seed from 2004 was already growing. It didn’t come easy. I hated the Lightning after they beat Pittsburgh in 2011. The Pens jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, then lost the last three games and got outscored 13-4 in the process. Deep down, I was still rooting for Tampa to win it all. The real shift came in 2015, when the Lightning went to the Stanley Cup Final against Chicago. The Hawks won, of course, but I saw firsthand how well this franchise was run on and off the ice with Mr. Vinik as owner. I wanted in. Then the tickets happened. I became a season ticket holder in 2017-18. The Penguins had just won back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017, and I turned my back on them. That’s when it stopped being casual. That’s when Amalie became my new church. Tampa went to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, and I’ve never been more down than after the Bolts got shut out in Games 6 and 7. I had to watch the Capitals win it all when the Lightning had every chance at glory. I can blame KucHEROv as the culprit for my abandoning Pittsburgh. The vision. The passes that shouldn’t be possible. The way he sees the ice two plays ahead. He somehow continues to get better every year. At some point it stopped being “I root for Tampa, too” and started being “this is the team.” The hero in the name fits. It wasn’t only Kuch. I’ve loved goalies since I was a kid. I’m no scout, but I knew Andrei Vasilevskiy was going to be special. The Lightning already had Stamkos and Hedman. Add in Kucherov and Vasy, and it felt like this team was destined for something big. I wanted to be part of it. I was in the building for the 2021 Cup against Montreal. Ross Colton’s goal. Vasilevskiy slamming the door for the fourth time in four series. The place going crazy after a year of empty arenas and pandemic hockey. My ears rang for days after every game that run. Watching them win it in 2021 will forever be one of my most cherished memories. I was there again in 2022 when Colorado ended the three-peat. Same building. Same people. Different feeling. Heartbreak hits different when you’ve been in the seats for the highs. You still clap. You still feel proud of the run. Winning the year before made it a little easier. The playoffs have been a bummer every year since then, but you better believe I’ll be there rooting for them until the clock hits zero. I still believe this team has what it takes to bring the Cup to it’s rightful home in Tampa Bay. That’s how a western PA kid ended up with season tickets in Tampa, rooting for the boys in blue, and writing here. I’m excited to join Raw Charge. I had the honor of being around these parts while John Fontana was the boss. He’s a big reason I’m a Lightning fan. I lived in the game threads and read every piece he wrote. He put in the work to get this off the ground, and I’m honored to contribute to the site he helped build (along with all the other contributors). This place has always felt like it was written by people who sit in the seats and care about the same things the rest of us do. I’ll bring the fan view, the goalie nerd-outs, the occasional old school take, and whatever else the season throws at us. Thanks for letting me join the Charge. Go Bolts!
\nOn this episode of The Sick Podcast, Eric Engels joins Tony Marinaro to discuss how the Montreal Canadiens are preparing for the upcoming expansion draft, why Arber Xhekaj remains unsigned, his long-term future in Montreal, a potentially beneficial role change, Zack Bolducs objectives this season, how much he could earn with his contract extension and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
\nLaura Saba of Locked on Canadiens Fame joins the podcast to talk about the forgotten rookie Oliver Kapanen. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
\nMontreal Canadiens players surge into Top 100 NHLers conversation as breakout stars like Cole Caufield and Jakub Dobe turn heads with standout performances. Are the Habs building the leagues next powerhouse? Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert spotlight Canadiens leap forward, dissect the inclusion of Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov among the leagues elite, and debate fan perceptions versus national recognition. The discussion intensifies around the future of Arber Xhekajis his role now threatened by rising forward Florian Xhekaj? Salary cap mastery comes to the forefront as hosts compare Cale Makars record-setting $20.4M contract to Montreals cost-effective top line. Plus, could you build a winner with 2.2 Lane Hutsons or two prime Carey Prices instead of a single iconic superstar? Insightful, energetic, and Habs-focused, this episode sets the stage for the most exciting Montreal Canadiens season in decades. 00:00 Speculating NHL player contracts 04:44 Concern about Canadiens' prospect depth 07:58 Dobe Breakout Season 10:53 Florian Xhekaj vs Arber Xhekaj 15:28 Discussing Florian Xhekajs NHL potential 16:06 Roster changes and training camp battles 20:15 Florida's expected response to Montreal 24:49 Cale Makar's impact on the team 26:48 Discussing Montreal Canadiens' challenges 31:45 Resigning Cale Makar for future success 33:32 Signing Key Players to Long-Term Deals 35:49 Wrap-up and listener thanks Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms https://link.chtbl.com/LOCanadiens?sid=YouTube Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Find Locked On Canadiens anywhere:https://lintr.ee/LockedOnCanadiens Also make sure to follow Locked on Canadiens and their hosts on Bluesky! Locked on Canadiens: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedoncanadiens.bsky.social Find Ian on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/maybeitsian.bsky.social Find Laura on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theactivestick.bsky.social #NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
\nWeek two of the countdown kicks off with an intriguing forward who could be in line to make his NHL debut this season. Name Lucas Mercuri Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 24 Height/Weight 6’3″, 223 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2020 6th Round (159) by Carolina Previous Rankings Not Ranked JustinG. Ranking 18 Final Rank 15 Stats: Our Thoughts: In March of 2025 the Tampa Bay Lightning made a move that didn’t rattle a lot of cages when they sent a 2025 sixth-round pick to Carolina for the rights to Lucas Mercuri. They quickly signed him and the forward from UMass made his debut later that season, appearing in six games for Syracuse. Last season, he earned a spot on the Crunch’s roster and made his way up a spot in the middle six and on the power play. Along the way he scored 14 goals and 12 assists in 67 games while racking up 132 penalty minutes. In case you were wondering, yes he led the team in penalty minutes (by a healthy margin) but in the rough-and-tumble AHL that total was bested by eleven other players. Give it up to Coachella Valley’s Ian McKinnon for leading the way with 245 PIMs. Mercuri’s solid season earned him the Ephesus “Brightest Prospect” / Rookie of the Year award from Syracuse and a chance for more playing time this season. While he doesn’t do a lot of flashy things on the ice he does most of them well. His wrist shot is accurate and hard enough to beat goaltenders from the circles. It’s not often that a rookie, even an older one, comes into the AHL and puts up more goals than he did in college, but that’s what Mercuri, who scored 10 goals in his best season at UMass did. He reads the game well and can distribute the puck to his linemates through the neutral zone to facilitate zone entries, and usually arrives on the forecheck will a little ill intent. At 6’3″ and 223 lbs. he has NHL size and isn’t shy about throwing it around. Like a lot of players on this list (and in the AHL in general) he has to improve his skating to advance to the next level. He has the speed to be effective at the AHL level, but might be a step or two behind in the NHL, a trait that would negate what he can do on the forecheck and in his own zone. In typical Lightning prospect abilities, he isn’t going to hurt his team in the defensive zone. Mercuri is usually in the right spot to make the play and has the reach to disrupt passes. If the play heads along the boards, there is a good chance he is going to take his player out or win a battle for the puck. Expect him to get a long look at training camp for a spot on the fourth line for the Lightning, but there might be a few too many bodies in front of him right now. Even if he doesn’t make the roster straight out of camp, he plays the style of game that the Lightning like when they make call-ups. Meanwhile he should maintain a spot in the middle six with the Crunch, likely bouncing back and forth between center and the wing. If he can keep winning face-offs, that will only help his cause. Your Thoughts: “Mercuri, I think would make a great 4th line center.” “Mercuri is a big boy who can produce at 4th line NHL level IMO, and needs to be on the 4th line start of this season.” Highest ranking was 6th with multiple votes. Majority of his votes came from the 12th to 20th spots. Highlight Videos: Mercs jams it in and gets the party going! pic.twitter.com/B8IUvKWIOD — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 26, 2026 Mercuri fought his way to the front of the net just in time to screen the goaltender. He has the ability and hands to twist around and knock the puck into the net. In the Lightning/Crunch system, a player that can create a little chaos in front of the net is always going to do well. Happy (early) birthday to OT-winner Lucas Mercuri🥳 @SyracuseCrunch | #WBSvsSYR pic.twitter.com/z3pB1IfmTp — American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 7, 2026 While he likes to do most of his damage from right in front of the net, his shot has been described at “NHL level”. It’s not overly hard, but Mercuri is usually in a shooting position, and therefore can get the shot off pretty quickly. Another beauty on the power play! pic.twitter.com/V0SWhdZJdF — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 8, 2026 A big body with the puck is going to always draw some attention. Mercuri held onto it here and made the nice little back pass. He’s not Adam Oates with the puck, but passes the puck pretty well for a player known more for his physical play than his offense. Wrap this one up and top it off with a bow 🎁 pic.twitter.com/A4pVHJBhD9 — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) December 20, 2025 Getting a gift is one thing. Making the most of it is what keeps players in the league. It would be nice to say Mercuri’s vicious forcheck created this turnover, but let’s be honest, this was an unforced turnover. Still, Mercuri didn’t make a mess out of it. A little stickhandling and a nice long reach allowed him to tuck it into the net. Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster 19 – Morgan Anderberg 18 – Gabriel Szturc 17 – Marco Mignosa #16 – Jan Golicic
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