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John Shannon and Daren Millard are back on 100% Hockey to break down the biggest stories from the opening weeks of the NHL season, including struggling teams, mounting injuries, and some surprising early results.
The conversation begins with the growing number of injuries around the league and whether shorter training camps and an expanded schedule could be contributing to the problem. John and Daren examine the difficult starts in Calgary, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, questioning what has gone wrong and how quickly those teams can turn things around.
In Toronto, the spotlight falls on Gavin McKenna after the first-overall pick saw limited ice time in the Maple Leafs' overtime loss to Buffalo. The guys debate Jim Hiller's handling of the rookie, whether the decision was intentional or simply a coaching oversight, and what it means for McKenna's development.
Elsewhere, John and Daren discuss Buffalo's impressive comeback, Ottawa's encouraging start under Travis Green, and New Jersey's performance against the Rangers. They also examine the growing importance of goaltending around the league and the challenges facing teams trying to establish consistency early in the season.
With plenty of unexpected results already shaping the standings, John and Daren separate early-season overreactions from the concerns that could become lasting problems.
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S3 Ep8: The GM's Perspective: Doug MacLean on Larkin, Hellebuyck, and the NHL
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"S3 Ep9: Early Warning Signs: Injuries, Struggling Teams, and Questions Across the NHL." is an episode of 100% Hockey. Runtime 59 min. Published October 16, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.