Playoff Collapse Cements Sharks Reputation as Chokers The label for playoff choker is thrown around very modestly when it comes to professional sports teams. Coming into the season, the San Jose Sharks were no different, having earned the label at times and being unfairly given it at others. After blowing a 3-0 series leading in their first round matchup with the rival Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks became the definition of playoff failure. The Sharks became just the fourth team in NHL history to
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 72
Point Projections Debate, and RFA Struggle
With just one week left until the start of the regular season Brad Burud and Blake Friars breakdown each teams point projections. They give their over or under, and also fire off their insight on each team which sparks some pretty good debate. Then it is on to more RFA talk. Who signed, who hasn’t and what is taking so long. The troubles and odd circumstances in Winnipeg is also discussed and the
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 73
2019-2020 NHL Predictions
One of our favorite and most anticipated episodes of the year. The PREDICTIONS episode. Brad Burud and Blake Friars tell you division by division how they will finish. They will also tell you who the wildcards will be and fill in who makes the playoffs. As always predictions lead to debate, arguments and some making fun of each other. That is pretty easy for us. Then it is on to the individual awards. What player
The Instigator |Episode 30
Welcome to Playoff Hockey: Johnny Gaudreau
Welcome to playoff hockey Johnny Gaudreau…. Gaudreau has been a complete no show for the Calgary Flames this playoff season….why is this? What do we expect from him? With the Flames on the brink of elimination. Flames fans expect a hell of a lot more than they are getting. Brad Burud of Inside Edge Hockey News expresses his frustration in the play of Gaudreau. Although the Flames disappointment is not so
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 62
#VegasAngry and Late Night Overtimes
The controversy and debate runs deep in this episode. Brad Burud get Blake Friars absolutely riled up over the Vegas Game 7 fiasco. Lets face it, it was a bad call. The two debate and actually fight over this topic. After they make up they make up they roll into a very exciting round two. Seven straight nights of overtime hockey last week. Does it get any better than that. It is late nights and overtim
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 71
RFA’s Signed, the Slow RFA’s and It’s Hockey Time
It is now—–Season 3. Brad Burud and Blake Friars are back for another great year of hockey talk. They dive right into the recent player signings. The good signings, and the crappy ones ie..Jared Spurgeon. Then they debate the unsigned RFA’s. When will they sign and how much will they get? and is there any cap room left. Three questions will entertain and a great Toronto Maple Leafs listene
The first round of the playoffs has had it all, overtime, big hits, great goals, and tons of excitement. One thing that seems to be missing, is a goalie that steps up to steal a series or even a game for that matter. Now I am not saying that there has not been good goaltending. I just feet that there has not been that one or two prime time goalie performances that we are used to in the playoffs. The goaltending of Tuukka Rask has probably been the most consistent, and best performance thus far
The Marty St Louis for Callahan trade will pay off Veteran has struggled offensively for Broadway Blue-shirts Fans must be patient with Marty St. Louis as he is still looking to score his first goal as a New York Ranger uniform. The NHL’s leading scorer since the 2005 lockout demanded a trade out of Tampa Bay due to lack of respect from GM Steve Yzerman in regards to the Canadian Olympic squad. He was then traded to New York for Captain Ryan Callahan, who was asking for too much money as a
The San Jose Sharks recent injury bug has left the team with a forward group that resembles a third of what their Worcester Sharks team should look like. Players have been called up from the team’s AHL affiliate in order to buy time for the regulars to get healthy. While that would seem to be a problem for most teams, this may in fact benefit the Sharks and in multiple ways. Firstly, the Sharks have never had to deal with this rash of injuries during the last decade of success. Star forward Loga
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 64
Domination, Destiny, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Conference Finals stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is in full swing and I am not going to lie, it has lacked excitement…This show will not lack excitement. Brad Burud and Blake Friars breakdown both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. They talk Courture, Jones, Hamilton, and Marchand. Then they roll into some hockey headlines. Tavares at Worlds, Kessler, Lucic and the new Seatt
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 60
Surprise 2-0 Leads and Cheap Shots
It is Stanley Cup Playoff time. Brad Burud of Inside Edge Hockey News and Blake Friars are fired up. The playoffs have had it all…overtimes, surprise 2-0 leads, amazing saves and great action. It is also getting a little feisty and cheap. Have you been watching the Toronto/Boston series? Brad and Blake breakdown each of the series. Talk about surprises, trends and let you know how their predictions are l
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 58
Trending Playoff Teams and Unemployed come Sunday
Everyone is getting very excited for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Brad Burud and Blake Friars discuss what teams are hot heading into the playoffs and what teams are cold heading in. Everyone wants to be peaking, but some teams are sputtering down the stretch. With Saturday being the final day of the regular season, will any coaches or general mangers hit the unemployment lines. Lots of c
The Instigator |Episode 27
Who is the Right Captain?
How important is a good captain to the growth of a hockey franchise? What type of player makes the best captain? All questions that are critical to a teams success. Do all NHL teams have the correct person as captain or has the pressures to select the young goal scorers outweighed the importance of leadership. Brad Burud from Inside Edge Hockey News gives his opinion on young captains.
PODCAST
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 57
Surprises and Disappointments of the 2018-19 Season
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are quickly approaching and with that is the end of the regular season. Brad Burud and Blake Friars talk about all the surprises and disappointments from the season. The positives are amazing. Jordan Binnington saving the St. Louis Blues season, and the complete dominance of the Tampa Bay Lightning. On the negative side the guys talk about the off ice antics in O
The Instigator |Episode 29
Why is the Playoff Format Broken?
Why is the current system a problem. Looks like the league and players do not feel that way. The NHL and NHLPA announced yesterday to extend the current system through next season. I am shocked that this is a hot topic this year. I don’t remember it being an issue last year. The current system is built because we have divisions. The object is to win your division. That is were teams rivals are.. Naysayers argue that pl
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 56
Playoff Format and Playoff Ready Goalies
It is very close to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Brad Burud and Blake Friars talk playoff format. Should it be 1-8 in the conference? Should it be choose your opponent? or Should it stay as is? They definitely have their opinions on this one. Then it is time to argue what goalies are playoff ready. In a year in which goalies have struggled the list is a little shorter than usual. Who is primed for a b
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 59
2019 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview and Predictions
It is Stanley Cup Playoff time…Brad Burud and Blake Friars are back to talk regular season predictions. Talk about their success stories and give each other a hard time for their mistakes. Believe it or not but this years predictions were pretty darn good. Then it is time to break down, analyze and make predictions on all the playoff series. They do have some disagreements on round one. The
NHL Trade Talk: January 22, 2014 St. Louis Ready to Pull Trigger NOW! - Talk out of St. Louis is that it is time for a change in net, and it has nothing to do with last nights score against New Jersey. It has been thought for multiple years that the goalie tandem of Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak was perfect. Lately that has come into question, and now Blues management is ready to make the move to bring in the goalie that will lead them to the Stanley Cup. There is a rumbling that the Blues ar
Drafting a solid, consistent and most importantly a clear number one goaltender can mean success for your fantasy team. Failing to lock down that star goaltender can lead to doom and gloom for your team. In a world where coaches are becoming more and more willing to run with a two-man system, it makes it even more difficult for fantasy owners. It is very important to draft a goaltender that will get you starts. When points are gained by saves, and wins, your goalie must be in the net to cash in.
INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS – RADIO SHOW | EPISODE 17
Tavares NOT Welcomed Home and the Push to the Playoffs
Long-time New York Islanders John Tavares made his much anticipated return to Long Island and it was a very interesting return to say the least. Brad Burud discusses the video tribute, boos, chants and the displeasure. Then it is time to talk Stanley Cup Playoffs and what teams are making a push and what teams have stepped out of the race. What if the playoffs started
The Instigator |Episode 28
Doughty: Criticism to Boost Your Ego
This week Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty set the hockey world a buzz with this comments prior to a game in Calgary. He praised Mark Giordano, but criticized Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson on their defensive capabilities. He then took aim at Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames. He claimed that he has no respect for Tkachuk and either does the rest of the leagues players. Well some strong words, but I just
The Instigator |Episode 26
Shootouts “It’s a Mockery”
The Minnesota Wild were beat twice by the Nashville Predators forward Ryan Johansson in shootouts this week. Goalie Devan Dubnyk is not happy about it. Sunday, Johansson beat backup netminder Alex Stalock in the shootout and last night, it was Dubnyk’s turn. Both times, the Predators forward showcased his quick hands, however, Dubnyk believes that he is using filthy tactics as he slowly approached the net, adding that Johans
NHL Trade Talk: February 26, 2014 St. Louis Wants Trade to New York - Martin St. Louis has admitted that he was hurt by not being selected to Team Canada in 2010, but when he was snubbed again by his general manager Steve Yzerman for the second time this year, he was openly upset. St. Louis was later added to the team because of an injury, and went on to win a gold medal. Most people thought that this was a dead issue, including myself. Upon returning from Sochi, Russia St. Louis reported
NHL Trade Talk: January 5, 2014 Goalie Shuffle - Goalie trade talk is everywhere. Where do we start. Here is a short breakdown of who needs a goalie and who would fill their void. - New Jersey- There is talk that Martin Brodeur will be on the move this year. Talk that Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Washington all have interest. I call this crazy. I don’t see him going anywhere, and I have no idea why Chicago or Washington would have any interest. - Washington- Now as for Washington, talk is that Micha
It looks as though it may have finally happened. Winnipeg Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson may just now be the main man in Winnipeg. After years of up and down struggles with goalie Ondrej Pavelec the Jets may have found his replacement. Pavelec and Hutchinson have been splitting starts thus far, but based on recent numbers, and Hutchinson’s recent 38 save 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, the trend may change. Michael Hutchinson is 8-2-2 on the year with a 1.67 goals against, and a very impres
