This Is Tough To Watch... | FN Barn Burner - October 5th, 2026

Michael Russo knew Rhett long before the Barn Burner microphones were turned on. Russo joins Boomer, Pinder and Rhett Warrener for a trip down memory lane, looking back on his time covering the Florida Panthers and a very young Rhett finding his way in the NHL. The boys revisit their days in Florida as Russo shares his memories of covering Rhett and the two look back on a chapter of their hockey lives that brought them together well before this show. If you know Rhett best for his stories and opinions on Barn Burner, this is a chance to hear about his younger days from someone who was there covering him. A little Panthers nostalgia, some familiar faces and a look at Rhett before he became the guy we watch every day.

Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa did not disappoint! Boomer, Pinder and Rhett react to an unforgettable night as Tkachuk returned to face the Ottawa Senators for the first time since joining his brother Matthew with the Florida Panthers. From the incredible atmosphere inside the building to the reaction from Senators fans, the drama on the ice and all the hilarious memes that followed, this game had just about everything. The boys break down the homecoming, the entertainment

Michael Russo joins Boomer, Pinder and Rhett to discuss the Minnesota Wild and their ongoing interest in Dylan Larkin. On paper, Larkin seems like a natural fit for a Wild team looking to win now, but getting a deal done with the Detroit Red Wings is proving to be a challenge. Russo explains the disconnect between the two sides, with Detroit reportedly looking for established NHL talent rather than a package built around future assets, while Minnesota would prefer to move picks and prospects instead of giving up players from its current roster. So who blinks first? Can the Wild find a way to land Larkin without weakening the team they're trying to build into a contender? The boys break down what could be holding up a potential trade and whether there's still a realistic path to getting a deal across the finish line.

Michael Russo joins Boomer, Pinder and Rhett Warrener on the Insider Hotline to talk all things Minnesota Wild ahead of their matchup with the Calgary Flames. Russo takes a trip down memory lane covering Rhett and shares a few stories from his time around the NHL before diving into the Wild's current situation. With Quinn Hughes in Minnesota, are the Wild officially in win-now mode? The guys discuss the possibility of adding Dylan Larkin, why a deal hasn't happened, Brock Faber's play and the team's injury concerns. They also get into Blake Coleman, Jacob Middleton and Brady Tkachuk's return to Ottawa. Plenty of hockey talk, a few old stories and some laughs with one of the NHL's best-connected reporters.

FULL EPISODE | FN Barn Burner: Boomer, Pinder & Warrener