
Early NHL Surprises: Rangers Surge, Red Wings Drama & Sheldon Keefe Hot Seat?
Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey LeagueShow Notes
Two weeks into the 2026–27 NHL regular season, sample sizes are growing and early trends are demanding attention
More from Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey League
Dylan Larkin has expanded the list of teams he’d accept a trade to, and the pattern is obvious: contenders in the lower 48
With one of the most emotional game of the season to date headlining the show, Mike Asti and Alex Wiederspiel discuss everything that was Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa, from the fan reaction, to his goal, to the eventual blowout win for the Senators. They even dive into what the trade could mean for the future of the league while also also covering a statement win for the Flyers as they look to keep rebounding after a rough start to the season.
Ross Levitan (Locked On Senators) and Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders) discuss Brady Tkachuk returning to Ottawa as an opponent. Plus, Connor McDavid’s historic start, Edmonton Oilers’ strong season, and the Boston Bruins’ impressive performance so far.
The Moose is loose. Mikko Rantanen's hat trick spoils a potential big night for Boston's youth movement. New Jersey writes a sentence in their story against Colorado. Los Angeles finally wins their first game. Edmonton plays well, then has to survive a Minnesota push. Montreal blows another lead in a loss to San Jose. Seattle blows a lead, but survives to maintain two points versus Detroit.
Utah Mammoth surge to the top of the Central Division with balanced scoring across the roster—can their goaltending keep pace? Seth Toupal and JD Young spotlight breakout performances from Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Logan Cooley, while questioning if Karel Vemelka’s .873 save percentage could jeopardize Utah’s playoff push. The duo debate trade rumors swirling around Connor Hellebuyck and which contender—Buffalo Sabres, Vegas Golden Knights, or Utah Mammoth—might pay the price to land the elite goaltender.