The DFO Rundown

Welcome to the DFO Rundown with Jeff Marek and Jason Gregor!You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

Today’s show is packed with major storylines from around the NHL as the playoff race tightens and big headlines continue to shake the league. We kick things off with Jarvis joining Team Canada and what it means for the international stage before diving into a harsh reality check for a couple of contenders — are the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs officially cooked?With games getting tighter across the league, the guys break down why we’re seeing more one-goal battles and what that means for teams trying to hang on down the stretch. We also dig into the blockbuster buzz around Artemi Panarin heading to Los Angeles and what that move could do to the Western Conference power balance.Elsewhere, the Columbus Blue Jackets are making a surprising push, the Pittsburgh Penguins are fighting to stay alive, and the Nashville Predators face some big organizational questions moving forward. Plus — who exactly are the Seattle Kraken right now, and what direction are they headed?We wrap things up with Fill in the Blank (bet365), discuss whether Aleksander Barkov should return, and touch on the buzz surrounding the Milan Games.You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

Right before the NHL roster freeze, we got a move that's been rumored for weeks. Artemi Panarin is heading west to Hollywood, joining the Kings and singing a 2 year extension with the club.Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon.0:00 - Intro0:40 - Artemi Panarin traded to LA3:29 - The power of no-move clauses 8:43 - What's next for LA10:55 - Nick Bjugstad traded to New Jersey13:12 - GMs are still busy though the freeze16:34 - bet365 picks of the weekReach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:The Nation Network Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Nation_Network?sub_confirmation=1🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff

We start the pod with the Olympics and the injury concerns surrounding Sweden and the USA. How could these games impact players and teams once the NHL season resumes?Next, we dive into the Minnesota Wild and their impressive season. Quinn Hughes has been a huge addition, but the Wild still need help down the middle. Could they move a goalie before the deadline to address their center depth?We then discuss how everyone analyzes the game differently and why watching from different angles can be so valuable for players and fans alike. How can the NHL improve its camera work to better showcase the game?The Sabres look primed to bring playoff hockey back to Buffalo. They’ve opened up a gap on Florida in the Eastern wild card race—but are they ready to handle the pressure down the stretch?We also touch on the underperforming St. Louis Blues and the overperforming Seattle Kraken. What will the playoff picture look like in the West?After Buy or Sell, Jeff and Jason wrap up the pod by discussing the Artemi Panarin sweepstakes.0:00 – Intro1:00 – Olympic injuries (USA & Sweden)5:00 – Celebrini high-stick call overturned7:15 – Minnesota Wild breakdown10:00 – Changing angles & game analysis20:30 – More Wild playoff talk25:15 – Sabres in / Panthers out?32:50 – Blues struggles & Robert Thomas40:00 – Seattle Kraken surprising season43:30 – Buy or Sell55:00 – Artemi Panarin “free agency” discussionYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

We start the show with some insane comebacks in last night's NHL slate. The Carolina Hurricanes scored 3 goals in the final two minutes against Utah to win 5-4 in regulation. The Edmonton Oilers also had a massive comeback overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the third to beat San Jose 4-3 in overtime.Macklin Celebrini waved off the referee on a high-sticking penalty he drew in the second period of their game. The penalty wasn't overturned but Gregs and Rupper think this gave him a lot of credibility around the league. Edmonton's win marks the first three-game win streak this season. Crazy to think they're tied with Vegas on points atop the Pacific with no major win streaks. The guys look at all the loser points from games that go to overtime and some rules that could help the overtime, so more games don't go all the way to a shootout. Janaury has set the NHL record for the most hat tricks in a month in NHL history. Alex Tuch had a hat trick last night for the Buffalo Sabres as Alex Lyon picked up his 10th straight win for the streaking Sabres as they beat LA 4-1. What could the Sabres do at the trade deadline?Gregor and Rupp both think the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff hopes are DONE. What's next for the Maple Leafs?The Florida Panthers are another team that made the playoffs last year that are still looking on from the outside. Aleksander Barkov isn't back yet and Sergei Bobrovsky has been struggling. Are the two-time defending champs in danger of missing the playoffs?The Colorado Avalanche are in a rut right now and with plenty of players going to the Olympics and a condensed schedule after the break. Gregor thinks the Avs need some more size on their backend and Rupper looks at their lack of powerplay success.Florida and Colorado both have multiple players going to the Olympics but very condensed schedules after the break. Are the Panthers schedule concerns a dagger to their playoff chances?Patrick Kane broke Mike Modano's record for the most points by an American-born player. Gregor and Rupp rip on the American-born versus American points leader records.Pat joins the show for another edition of Fillin the Blank:_____ is the most likely to beat the Colorado Avalanche to win the Western Conference_____ could usurp Nathan MacKinnon for the RocketAt -500 to make the playoffs and +350 to not make it, the Buffalo Sabres ______ the playoffsBuffalo, Detroit, Montreal, and Anaheim highlight some fanbases the guys think would be electric atmospheres for home playoff series with their droughts.You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

The Islanders are making moves to bolster their lineup for a playoff push. The Rangers... Could Artemi Panarin be the next star moved? From the Big Apple to the Big Smoke, turmoil in Toronto after a winless homestand. The Jets and Canucks are both sellers, but could other teams soon join them?Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon.0:00 - Intro0:33 - New York Islanders3:05 - New York Rangers & Artemi Panarin7:23 - Nazem Kadri9:20 - Toronto turmoil16:05 - Montreal Canadiens19:46 - Winnipeg Jets23:03 - Vancouver Canucks and Evander Kane29:27 - Anaheim Ducks32:03 - bet365 pick of the weekReach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:The Nation Network Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Nation_Network?sub_confirmation=1🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff

We start the show with a big question, Are The Buffalo Sabres Good? Sitting third in the Atlantic Division, can the Sabres snap their playoff drought this year?Sticking in the Atlantic, the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling sitting five points out of the playoffs. Are Toronto's playoff hopes over?The Detroit Red Wings are a team that has surprised with their record so far and with an abundance of cap space could we see the Wings make a big splash before the Olympic Break or at the deadline to vault this team to another level in an Eastern Conference that remains relatively open for the taking?The Boston Bruins continue to hover around the final Eatern Conference playoff spot. Bruins' backup Joonas Korpisalo has been sensational since the beginning of 2026 with a 4-0-0 record, sub two GAA, and a SV% over .940. With Jeremy Swayman heading to the Olympics, could we see more starts by Korpisalo and a tandem forming similar to when the Bruins had Swayman and Linus Ullmark? The Pittsburgh Penguins are giving Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang their storybook farewell. Considered at the beginning of the season as a team that could turn the chapter on their veterans and rebuild, the Penguins currently sit second in the Metro Division and are riding a four-game winning streak.A big question for Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas will be what to do with Malkin? The veteran forward is a free agent after this year but has shown he still has gas left in the tank. With Crosby under contract still for next season, could we see Malkin resign and ride off into the sunset with his long-time teammate or will Dubas look to turn over this team to some of his younger prospects climbing the organizational ranks?Malkin and the Penguins' situation brings up the topic of development and is it better for younger players to grow with other young players and go through those growing pains together or is it better to have a group of seasoned veterans in the room to ease rookies into the league and pass down their wisdom?The Anaheim Ducks have had a rollercoaster season but sit third in the Pacific and are on a seven-game win streak. This mix of veterans and youngsters could be the blueprint for other teams going into a rebuilding stage or trying to breakout from their rebuilds to get back to contention. Evan Bouchard had a monster game Saturday posting six points, including his first ever hat trick in a 6-5 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. How rare was Bouchard's night for NHL defenders?Nikita Kucherov now sits third in NHL scoring and with Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid stealing a lot of the spotlight, it's hard to overlook the Russian winger's impact for the Tampa Bay Lightning who have had a slew of injuries this season yet still sit second in the Atlantic Division. Does Kucherov not get the attention he deserves on a national scale?Pat joins the show for another edition of Buy or Sell: Carter Hart and Adin Hill will be the goalie tandem for Vegas come playoffsVegas to win the PacificA big trade will occur before the Olympic BreakLastly, the guys discuss all the new faces that could be in the playoffs this season and if this parity is good for the NHL or if the parity devalues the Stanley Cup?0:00 - Intro3:15 - Are The Sabres Good?6:40 - Are Toronto's Playoff Hopes Over?11:15 - Red Wings in the Market12:05 - Boston Bruins15:00 - Pittsburgh Penguins15:20 - What Does Dubas Do With Evgeni Malkin?17:15 - Development21:40 - Anaheim Ducks28:00 - Bouchard Hatty35:30 - Nikita Kucherov38:40 - Buy or Sell50:55 - New Teams in the PlayoffsYou can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

We started the show talking about Jackson Lacombe getting the call to Team USA for the Milan Olympics for the injured Seth Jones, was this the right call or should they have picked Lane Hutson or Adam Fox?On the USA topic, we discuss the best American players in NHL history and what the definition really means when it comes to American-born versus a player like Brett Hull who was Canadian-born but played for the States. This conversation comes up as Patrick Kane is inching closer to Mike Madano for the American-born scoring lead, but he still wouldn't pass Brett Hull for most NHL points by a deemed American skater. Is Patrick Kane the best American player and how do you compare forwards to defenders with players like Chris Chelios and Quinn Hughes potentially making cases? The difference in eras for the game of hockey, not only in points, but style of play and the hardships and expectations from players is always brought up when comparing players. How do you compare players from different eras given the advancement in training, nutrition, and more! The Buffalo Sabres had a statement win over division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. After the Josh Doan signing should Jarmo continue his push to create a team poised for a future of playoff runs, starting with this season?Pat joins the show for Fill in the Blank:If a Canadian defender goes down ____ is the replacement____ is a team that is not doing themselves any favours by winning TOO MUCH____ takes home the Art RossThe Rocket race is becoming a run away for Nathan MacKinnon as the only guy on pace for 50 goals. With 50-goal scorers becoming a rarity in the league, is this bad for the game?The Nashville Predators sit one point out of the last wildcard spot in the West. Steven Stamkos had a hat-trick last night and is on pace for just under 40 goals. If the Predators sell Stamkos should be a sought after piece for a contender.We wrap up the show with some more Olympic injury news and rumours from Sweden, Canada, and the USA.You can get involved with all the NHL futures action over on bet365 by using the promo code NATION at bet365.comConnect with us on ⬇️TwitterInstagramWebsiteDaily Faceoff Merch

Utah Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong joins the show today! He shares his excitement with the Mammoth on and off the ice, including arena renovations, the 2027 Winter Classic, and building a roster to compete for the long run. Irf and David also take a look around the league, checking in on Shane Wright in Seattle and breaking some business news out of Vegas.Meet our insiders: Irfaan Gaffar of Daily Faceoff, Canucks Army, & Rink Wide Vancouver is joined by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, SiriusXM NHL, and NHL Network. They look around the NHL, reacting to the week's news and digging into the contracts, trades, and moves that are still on the horizon.0:00 - Intro0:30 - Los Angeles Kings3:30 - Kings might look at Vancouver for forward help4:40 - Shane Wright's future in Seattle6:48 - Utah Mammoth9:07 - Utah GM Bill Armstrong12:18 - Ownership in Utah16:56 - Improving the Mammoth roster18:59 - Pending free agents in Utah20:58 - 2027 Winter Classic22:48 - Utah recap24:55 - Minnesota Wild27:54 - Vegas Golden Knights selling a stake in franchise29:40 - Winnipeg Jets31:45 - bet365 pick of the week32:31 - Marner's return to TorontoReach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:The Nation Network Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Nation_Network?sub_confirmation=1🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff