Zone Time

As two Florida franchises prepare to play for a championship, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk joined the NBA on TNT panel during the pregame show. Rubbing shoulders with Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, Tkachuk looked at ease but can the NHL capitalize and market its stars better? Also on this week's show:Would Kyle Dubas prefer a longer-term project in Ottawa over a win-now mission in Pittsburgh?Why the Flames must avoid a Johnny Gaudreau 2.0NHL Trivia: Changing places & being traded

Kyle Dubas is out as Maple Leafs general manager but president Brendan Shanahan remains. If Toronto fails to improve on its 2022-23 showing next season, regardless of who the coach or players are, Shanahan will be held responsible for the course correction gone wrong. The Zone Time ask what kind of GM do the Leafs need and discuss if Sergei Bobrovsky is playing himself into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Everything is up for debate in Toronto after the Maple Leafs disastrous second-round loss to the Panthers. General manager Kyle Dubas says he'll either resign in Toronto or take a break while all signs point to head coach Sheldon Keefe taking the fall for the team's failure. Meanwhile, with one year left on his contact, Auston Matthews says his intention is to extend his stay in blue and white. Canada's Stanley Cup hopes are over for another year after the Oilers lost to the Golden Knights. Edmonton's window is still open but Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl missed a golden opportunity to go all the way.

The Toronto Maple Leafs face an impending offseason in which almost half of its roster will be free agents, Auston Matthews will be entering the final year of his contract and the fanbase will be eager for change on the bench and in the front office if the team fails to rally from a 3-0 second-round deficit to Florida.On the latest playoff edition of Zone Time, Julian and crew also explore how the Seattle Kraken are proving that balance and depth can win in the NHL and celebrate Leon Draisaitl, who is playing like he's tired of losing.

Boston put together an historic regular season, perhaps the best the NHL has ever seen but winning the Presidents' Trophy gave the Bruins no protection when they were dumped out in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Florida Panthers. In that series, Matthew Tkachuk put his team on his back from 3-1 down and would be a strong candidate to win the Hart Trophy if it wasn't for come guy called Connor McDavid.The Zone Time crew also discuss Jacob Trouba's bit hit on Timo Meier and make predictions for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Maple Leafs are on the brink of winning a first-round playoff series for the first time since 2004 but should the franchise and its fans treat this season as a success if they fall at the next hurdle?On this week's playoff edition of Zone Time, Julian and crew laud Ryan O'Reilly, unpack the Cale Makar 'dirty player' discourse and ask if Leon Draisaitl a better playoff performer than Connor McDavid?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us so it's time for the Zone Time crew to nail their flags to some contending masts. Rangers vs. Devils seems to close to call, can the Kings really upset the Oilers and is this the year the Maple Leafs bury their first-round demons?

Hopes were high for the Calgary Flames ahead of the 2022-23 season but expectations were quickly met with a disastrous reality as the team missed the playoffs. Changes are now unavoidable, and the franchise must decide whether to move on from head coach Darryl Sutter, the team's style of play or indeed some of its biggest stars.Julian is joined by Arun, Sam and Omar for a playoffs preview, and they also ask if Erik Karlsson's 100 points are worthy of the Norris Trophy.

The Boston Bruins may go down as the greatest regular season NHL team ever but only twice in the salary-cap era has the Presidents' Trophy winner gone on to lift the Stanley Cup.Julian, Sam, Omar and Avry also discuss the Western Conference wild card race, the prospect on an in-season NHL tournament, and ask if NHL stars be activists, role models or just athletes?