Weekly Warmup: March 30

For hockey fans and players alike, there is no sound more anticipatory that skates digging into the ice, sticks meeting pucks and your favorite team's audio effect when a goal is scored. Hard to replace that feeling, but hockey podcasts can most certainly provide some comfort and knowledge while the 2019-20 NHL season is suspended.
Let's be upfront. What follows are recommended podcasts from Weekly Warmup, not an exhaustive list-there are dozens on podcast channels. Nor is it a "best" list since, like music, hockey podcasts run to personal taste and listening behavior. Some of us listen to one type of music most of the time, others sample across genres. Some might click predominantly to one favorite playlist (curated by a music provider or personalized to our moods) while others range across the playlist landscape.
OK, let's push the play button on Weekly Warmup:

MOST LISTENED
This is a virtual tie between two hockey podcasts, one for current trends and news in the NHL, the other to satisfy a personal intrigue with how GMs and executives manage their teams and league.
The Full 60 with Craig Custance: Custance is a stellar hockey journalist currently serving as editor-in-chief for The Athletic Detroit after earlier stops as the national hockey writer for The Sporting News and NHL reporter for ESPN. His range of guests reflects the many positive relationships he has built in covering the sport, from players to GMs to coaches to trainers to innovators and lots. He has posted a number of podcasts about how the NHL and its players are dealing with COVID-19 while also keeping fans informed about 2020 draft prospects and giving background on the NHL's Pause Binge games and videos to watch. The Full 60 archives include not-to-miss entries, such as NHL television analyst Eddie Olczyk talking about his cancer diagnosis (and providing a verbal clinic on hockey that tilted a dozen minutes past the usual hour) and a two-part freewheeling episode with Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
NHL Executive Suite with Deb Placey:Another stellar hockey journalist, Placey, has cornered the podcast universe with NHL general manager interviews that make it hard to listen to just one at a time. If your favorite team's GM (yes, NHL Seattle's Ron Francis is listed) is in the archive, listen, you won't regret it. Recommended for a slow afternoon or evening: Not one but two episodes featuring successful and well-traveled GM Lou Lamoriello, plus a sitdown with Kyle Dubas, the Toronto GM with connections to both Lamoriello and Francis. Bonus pick: Placey's interview with Sam Flood, executive producer for NBC Sports who will teach anyone who listens something new about the sport.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Sound of Hockey:Of course, this podcast presented by NHLtoSeattle.com and hosted by John Barr, Andy Eide and Darren Brown is a personal and local favorite. This trio shows up at all sorts of hockey events in town and the region, talked up NHL Seattle before Weekly Warmup ever did, plus ranges the podcast from NHL news to WHL/Seattle T-Birds/Everett Silvertips coverage to city of Seattle gab to proper due for women's hockey (check out the recent Hilary Knight episode). Barr is a fan leader extraordinaire and Eide is nearly encyclopedic on WHL prospects entering the NHL Draft. Brown rounds out this strong hockey forward line with solid opinions and quips. The three-way banter is one reason why the next episode of this podcast will be the 80th.
SPECIAL GUEST ALLISON BICKFORD'S PICKS
When you sit near someone in a newsroom or sports team office, it is inevitable to talk shop. Those conversations are a pleasure and revelation if you happen to sit near Allison Bickford, NHL Seattle's Director for Corporate Partnership Activation. Here are Ali's podcast recommendations and commentary (honestly, she is a podcaster in waiting for any talent scouts out there):
Hockey Central at Noon: "Daily radio broadcast in Toronto, typically talking about games the night before and league wide headlines. Currently, the hosts are doing a lot of storytelling with coaches and players joining as guests, which has been really entertaining."
31 Thoughts:"Weekly-ish commentary between Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman, two highly-respected Canadian journalists (sportsnet.ca) typically involves an interview with a coach/player/personality." Recent episodes include a talk with former NHL defenseman Hal Gill plus a "What NHL GMs are thinking" topic. The show title originates from Friedman's written column.
Kes & Juice: "Former-ish players Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa discuss NHL happenings, story-telling, some player interviews. Incredibly informal and good look behind the curtain at player personalities." The former Canuck teammates were not beloved by NHL rival fans but a look at review boards shows fans enjoy the pair much more behind the mic.
VOW TO LISTEN MORE…
There are several podcasts that merit more regular Weekly Warmup attention and listening time. Here are top choices:
ESPN on Ice: Hockey writers Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski combine for a friendly, informative, newsy powerhouse of a podcast. They are both impressive reporters on the sport. Kaplan is ESPN's national hockey writer (a dream job for her) and Wyshynski, the mastermind behind the never-dull Yahoo Sports "Puck Daddy" blog of recent yore make a strong pair. Full disclosure: I worked with "Wysh" at Yahoo and Emily interned at NHL.com when I was there, which means I truly understand how much they know and love the game, plus I should be listening to the each episode when it first publishes for maximum news value. Note for Puck Daddy fans: If you miss the now-ended "Marek vs. Wyshynski" podcast, search the title in your browser for some retro and fun episodes.
Hockey PDOCast: Hosted by Vancouver-raised Dimitri Filipovic , this is an ideal place in podcast-land to plant your stake for learning more about hockey analytics. Filipovic is not heavy-handed with the numbers, but incorporates enough to inform the hockey fans who wants to know more about how and why NHL teams are increasingly incorporating data into player evaluations, draft decisions and game strategy. The bonus is you discover more things to love about the sport. Filipovic is a solid interviewer, particularly skilled at striking conversations with guest statisticians on the podcast. Not a typo: The 'PDO' in the show title is not a misspelling of 'pod' or even an acronym; it is actually the online handle for Brian King, an Edmonton Oilers fan who first introduced the concept of adding together a team's shooting percentage and save percentage to determine how much luck is involved with a team's success. Happily, Filipovic's podcasts are easier to explain than that explanation.
NHL.com's @The Rink, NHL Fantasy on Ice and NHL Draft Class: This trio of podcasts features more former colleagues I respect for both knowledge and work ethic. NHL.com reporter Dan Rosen helms "@The Rink" with lively discussions of news topics factoring what he hears directly from players, team execs and fans on social media. Pete Jensen and Rob Reese (the only talent here I didn't get to know during NHL.com days) team up on the fantasy show; Pete graduated from the esteemed Penn State sports journalism program on a Friday and started with us at NHL.com on a Sunday-or as best as I recall--working his way to premier standing with fantasy hockey fans. "NHL Draft Class" covers prospects, featuring the expertise of long-time NHL.com maven Mike Morreale, joined by colleague Adam Kimmelman to form the conversation. Morreale has been on the beat for a decade building relationships with every top NHL prospect evaluator.
Not Your Normal Hockey Podcast:Host Julie Robenhymer discusses not just your NHL topics. Along with the NHL, she has covered the many levels of hockey that develop and feature future NHL players, including juniors (Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, U.S. Hockey League, more), NCAA hockey, American Hockey League and world championships. Her work has appearing on The Athletic, ESPN.com, New York Times and Elite Prospects. Her recent guests include top American draft prospect Jake Sanderson, a pair of top NCAA coaches and the coach of the Swedish national juniors team. This is an entertaining stop to find out more about the development of younger players.
If you think Warmup Weekly missed a podcast favorite or three - guessing that's the case - feel free to send recommendations to
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or via our social media channels. You might say we'll be all ears.