Eastern Race & Coach Convo ft. Ken Daniels

Season 3 of Morning Cuppa Hockey rolls on with a loaded edition as guest-host Steve Peters sits in for Colby Cohen!

Jonny and Steve break down the high-stakes drama of the Eastern Conference playoff race. With the postseason just weeks away, we look at the bubble teams fighting for those final Wild Card spots and who has the easiest path to the finish line.

We also go behind the bench to discuss the bench bosses making waves this season:

Jack Adams Frontrunners: Who is the current favorite for Coach of the Year? We weigh the cases for Jon Cooper (Lightning), Lindy Ruff (Sabres), and Rick Bowness (Blue Jackets).

Coaches on the Hot Seat: Which organizations are nearing a breaking point, and who might be looking for a new leader this summer?

To wrap up the show, we are joined by the legendary Ken Daniels, the iconic voice of the Detroit Red Wings. He joins us to share his perspective on the league's biggest storylines and the state of hockey in the Motor City.

0:00 - Welcome + Thursday show intro

1:05 - Steve Peters fills in + show preview (Ken Daniels later)

2:13 - Bruins vs Sabres reaction + Buffalo identity

3:44 - Zach Benson usage + development debate

6:18 - Benson progression + Buffalo depth discussion

8:44 - Josh Doan impact + “details away from puck”

11:06 - Sabres culture + locker room chemistry

12:24 - Are the Sabres built for the playoffs?

14:16 - Advanced stats case for Buffalo offense

15:55 - Eastern Conference playoff picture + prep challenges

17:07 - Jack Adams Award conversation begins

18:24 - Lindy Ruff case + award flaws debate

19:47 - Dan Muse praise + Pittsburgh turnaround

21:00 - Why Jon Cooper gets overlooked

23:09 - Travis Green + Ottawa system improvements

24:36 - Senators playoff identity + physicality

25:12 - “Underdog award” debate (Jack Adams)

26:51 - Coaching vs roster (Edmonton example)

28:19 - Do systems actually matter? (deep dive)

31:30 - Systems in playoffs vs regular season

33:07 - Forechecking importance + playoff translation

35:40 - How casual vs hardcore fans watch hockey

38:02 - Bruins forecheck breakdown (example play)

41:14 - Coaches on the hot seat (Berube, Keefe, Cassidy)

47:10 - Setup: offside rule debate + Ken Daniels intro setup

50:33 - Offside rule explanation (blue line concept)

53:41 - Ken Daniels joins the show

54:09 - Origin of the “blue line = offensive zone” idea

55:20 - Impact on reviews + “buzzkill” moments

56:34 - Why fewer offside challenges would occur

57:34 - Red Wings playoff push + expectations

1:01:47 - Broadcasting big moments + pressure/excitement

1:08:01 - Life as a broadcaster + behind-the-scenes insight

1:11:38 - Offside rule examples + Patrick Kane goal context

1:13:03 - League resistance to rule changes discussion

1:14:29 - Ken Daniels outro + final thoughts

1:15:03 - Post-interview discussion

1:16:30+ - Outro/closing segment

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