Morning Cuppa Hockey · The Nation Network

NHL Is Back & Deadline Nears ft. David Pagnotta

·1 hr 12 min·5 clips

Why Jordan Binnington's Olympic performance could force the Blues to trade him now.

This episode of Morning Cuppa Hockey features hosts Colby Cohen and Johnny Lazarus alongside guest David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period. They analyze the NHL's return from the Olympic break and preview the upcoming trade deadline. The hosts note the sloppy, October-like quality of the first games back, with players like Nikita Kucherov looking sharp while others showed rust. David Pagnotta discusses the potential trade market for St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington following his Olympic performance. He mentions the Edmonton Oilers' desperate need for goaltending but notes the financial hurdles in acquiring Binnington. Pagnotta identifies the Carolina Hurricanes as another possible suitor, given questions about their current goalie situation. The conversation shifts to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Mantha, whose affordable contract and 20-goal season make him an attractive trade target for contenders. Pagnotta states the Montreal Canadiens are actively discussing Patrick Laine with multiple teams and expect to trade him by the deadline. He explains the New York Rangers are willing to listen on most players, with Vincent Trocheck's value at a peak following the Olympics. Pagnotta expects the Tampa Bay Lightning to seek a right-shot defenseman with term and the New York Islanders to add a top-nine forward to capitalize on Sidney Crosby's injury. He would be very surprised if the Florida Panthers traded Sergei Bobrovsky. A surprising claim is that Jordan Binnington's Olympic performance served more as a reminder of his capabilities in high-pressure moments rather than drastically inflating his trade value. Pagnotta reveals the Rangers are listening on offers for defenseman Braden Schneider. He notes the Carolina Hurricanes' front office collaborates with coach Rod Brind'Amour to identify trade targets that fit his system. The hosts express skepticism about the Philadelphia Flyers pursuing a goalie now, suggesting it's a summer move. Pagnotta finds it curious that the Los Angeles Kings, despite checking on Laine, are seeking a different type of playmaking forward. The tone is conversational and insider-driven, focused on trade speculation and team needs. The style is informal, with hosts and guest sharing opinions and reported information. This episode is ideal for NHL fans craving early trade deadline rumors and analysis of team strategies. Listeners who prefer deep game analysis or dislike speculative trade talk might want to skip it.

As heard by us

Deadline chatter that stays tied to real roster decisions.

This episode stays with the trade deadline while hockey settles back in, and it does not waste time pretending the last night looked clean. The hosts lean into the sloppiness and the rust, then David Pagnotta comes on and the talk gets sharper: less broad market noise, more…

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Why you'd press play

You want the morning-after NHL read with trade talk a little over a week from the deadline.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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