Tri-State Hockey Podcast

Johnny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 54 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast to debate some of the biggest questions surrounding the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and the Metropolitan Division heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.

The guys react to the NHL Network’s Top 20 defensemen rankings, including Adam Fox being left outside the top 10, Matthew Schaefer landing at No. 7, Lane Hutson’s rise, Evan Bouchard, Charlie McAvoy, and more.

Then, they break down Jason Demers’ early Metro Division predictions and give their own 1-through-8 rankings, debating where the New York Rangers and Islanders stack up against the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Plus, the crew answers your voicemails, including whether Dylan Larkin could be a fit with the Devils, what Detroit could possibly get back in a trade, whether Quinn Hughes would give New Jersey or Minnesota the better Stanley Cup window, and the latest debate over Hughes’ future with the Wild.

Could Quinn eventually join Jack and Luke Hughes in New Jersey? Does Minnesota need to get an extension done before the season begins? All that and more on a new Tri-State Hockey Podcast.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Welcome to Episode 54
1:00 — NHL Network’s Top 20 Defensemen
1:24 — Adam Fox OUTSIDE the Top 10?!
1:50 — Is Matthew Schaefer already the No. 7 defenseman?
5:33 — Lane Hutson’s rise & how NHL Network rankings are made
8:29 — Adam Fox, Rangers bias & what makes an elite defenseman
15:32 — Biggest snubs & future Top 20 defensemen
18:02 — Adam Fox vs. Evan Bouchard
20:48 — Luke Hughes prediction
21:25 — WAY-too-early Metropolitan Division rankings
28:02 — Johnny’s Metro Division predictions
31:35 — Arthur’s Metro Division predictions
33:08 — Mike’s Metro Division predictions
33:30 — Could the Atlantic send five teams to the playoffs?
36:19 — VOICEMAILS: Could Dylan Larkin be traded to the Devils?
37:07 — What would New Jersey give up for Larkin?
41:04 — Can Detroit enter training camp with Larkin still there?
45:05 — Quinn Hughes: Devils vs. Wild — who has the better future?
47:03 — Would Quinn make New Jersey a Stanley Cup favourite?
52:07 — Will Quinn Hughes sign an extension with Minnesota?
55:02 — Would a one-year Quinn Hughes extension make sense?
58:59 — Could Quinn eventually join Jack & Luke Hughes in New Jersey?
1:03:33 — Would acquiring Dylan Larkin convince Quinn to stay?
1:06:27 — What happens next with Quinn Hughes?
1:07:00 — Final thoughts & wrap-up

Presented by bet365

#TriStateHockey #NHL #Hockey #NYR #NJDevils #Isles #NewYorkRangers #NewJerseyDevils #NewYorkIslanders #QuinnHughes #DylanLarkin #AdamFox #MatthewSchaefer #MetropolitanDivision
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back for Episode 53 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast to break down the biggest storylines surrounding the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and New York Islanders as the NHL offseason continues.

The guys open the show by discussing Vincent Trocheck's recent comments about choosing the Rangers because of Artemi Panarin, leading to a conversation about whether New York still has the star power to attract elite free agents. They examine Chris Drury's offseason, the perception surrounding the Rangers organization, and what the franchise must do to become a destination again.

The conversation then shifts to a debate over the NHL's best center duos after a recent ranking left both the Rangers and Islanders outside the top tiers. The crew explains why Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier deserve to be among the league's elite pairings, compares Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller against Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, and discusses where each Tri-State team stacks up down the middle.

Later, the guys answer listener questions, including what the Islanders need from Brayden Schenn and Ondřej Palát to justify last season's trade deadline moves, whether Bo Horvat or Mathew Barzal is more valuable moving forward, and if Dawson Mercer should already be locked into a long-term extension with the Devils.

Finally, they discuss the NHL's rising salary cap, how the next wave of superstar contracts could reshape the league, and which teams are best positioned for long-term success before wrapping up the show with their Bet365 Bet of the Day and final thoughts.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Vinny Trocheck & Artemi Panarin's impact
14:54 Rangers expectations heading into next season
16:54 Ranking the NHL's best center duos
26:26 Islanders mailbag: Brayden Schenn, Ondřej Palát & Horvat vs. Barzal
33:38 Should the Devils extend Dawson Mercer? 40:07 NHL salary cap boom & the next generation of superstar contracts
45:17 Shoulder Check Showcase & Bet365 Bet of the Day
47:04 Final thoughts

Presented by bet365
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnny Lazarus, Arthur Staple and Mike Rupp are back together for Episode 52 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast to assess where the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and New York Islanders stand following their offseason moves.

The guys begin with the Devils and debate whether New Jersey has the strongest roster of the three teams. They break down where Anthony Mantha could fit alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, the improved versatility of the forward group, concerns surrounding the defence and whether Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich can provide enough stability in goal.

The conversation then shifts to the Rangers following an active offseason. Arthur explains why he liked Chris Drury’s moves, while the group discusses the Vincent Trocheck trade, Pavel Dorofeyev, the Rangers’ lack of depth down the middle and the pressure facing J.T. Miller, Alexis Lafrenière, Gabe Perreault and head coach Mike Sullivan.

Finally, the guys examine the Islanders’ quiet summer, Anthony Duclair’s future, whether veteran players could block opportunities for younger talent and what Peter DeBoer can get out of the current roster. They also discuss the Islanders’ struggling power play, Matthew Schaefer’s role and whether the team did enough to improve. The show closes with a Tri-State trivia challenge featuring every Rangers, Islanders and Devils player to record a 30-goal season since 2003-04.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro and which Tri-State team is best positioned?
2:20 Ranking the best forwards across the three teams
4:53 Anthony Mantha and the Devils’ top six
11:30 Finding balance throughout New Jersey’s lineup
14:23 Concerns about the Devils’ defence
19:52 Can New Jersey’s goaltending hold up?
24:42 Breaking down the Rangers’ offseason
30:04 Are the Rangers stuck in the middle?
34:30 Which Rangers players must step up?
39:03 Pressure on Mike Sullivan and Gabe Perreault’s role
44:32 Anthony Duclair and the Islanders’ offseason
48:09 Are veterans blocking the Islanders’ young players?
51:25 Could Maxim Tsyplakov take another step?
55:47 Kyle Palmieri and the Islanders’ changing core
58:29 Can the Islanders fix their power play?
1:01:46 Rangers, Islanders and Devils 30-goal trivia
1:10:24 Playoff odds and final thoughts

Presented by bet365
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NHL Free Agency is officially behind us, and it's time to break down what it all means for the Metro Division.

On Episode 51 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, Jonny Lazarus and Mike Rupp dive into the New Jersey Devils' aggressive offseason, the New York Rangers' biggest additions and remaining questions, and whether the New York Islanders have done enough to stay in the playoff picture.

The guys discuss Nico Hischier's extension, the Jacob Markstrom trade, the Devils' Barrett Hayton offer sheet, the Rangers' revamped roster, power play options, playoff expectations, the Islanders' quiet offseason, Anders Lee's departure, Patrick Laine as a potential fit, and much more.

Who had the best offseason in the Metro? Let us know in the comments!

Presented by bet365

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
0:47 First impressions of NHL Free Agency
1:47 Jacob Markstrom trade reaction
2:46 Devils offseason begins with Nico's extension
6:50 Barrett Hayton offer sheet discussion
11:30 Dawson Mercer & Devils' remaining moves
19:50 Farewell to Pavel Zacha.../Holtz discussion & Devils wrap-up
20:55 Rangers free agency overview
27:20 Rangers' biggest additions
32:50 Rebuilding the Rangers power play
37:30 Are the Rangers just a middle-of-the-pack team?
39:40 Is the Eastern Conference actually weak?
42:30 Metro Division playoff race predictions
44:25 Islanders offseason review
45:40 Should the Islanders target Patrick Laine?
46:30 Anders Lee's departure and youth movement
49:05 Islanders playoff outlook
50:40 Matthew Schaefer story from the Draft
52:05 Final Islanders thoughts
54:35 Stanley Cup odds & final predictions
55:45 Outro

Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast! Jonny Lazarus, Arthur Staple, and Stanley Cup Champion Mike Rupp reunite to tackle some of the biggest questions facing hockey in the New York market and across the NHL. The show kicks off with a thought-provoking voicemail from a concerned Rangers fan asking whether the New York Rangers are still viewed as a premier destination for star players and whether criticism surrounding Chris Drury is beginning to impact the organization's reputation. The crew dives deep into the changing landscape of player empowerment, discusses the Rangers' current direction, and examines what the future could hold for some of the NHL's biggest stars.
The conversation also explores the state of the New York Islanders, their front office changes, organizational direction, and whether they could be emerging as a more attractive destination than their rivals across town. Plus, the guys break down the outlook for the New Jersey Devils, discuss roster-building philosophies around the league, debate how teams stay competitive in today's NHL, and answer listener questions in a wide-ranging offseason edition of the podcast. If you're a Rangers, Islanders, Devils, or NHL fan, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

00:00 Intro
01:13 Rangers Fan Voicemail: Chris Drury Concerns
08:35 Are the Rangers Still a Destination Team?
17:45 Star Player Empowerment & NHL Destinations
27:10 Rangers Offseason Outlook
36:25 Islanders Direction & Expectations
45:30 Devils Discussion
53:15 Summer Plans for the Podcast
57:00 Final Thoughts

Presented by bet355

👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more Tri-State Hockey Podcast content!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.