Expected by Whom? - An Analytics & Eye Test Hockey Podcast · Winged Wheel Podcast Network

Kitchener Rangers Assistant GM - Mike Zsolt Interview - Ep. 19

·1 hr 14 min·5 clips

Why Connor Bedard in Chicago is the NHL's biggest marketing opportunity since Gretzky played for LA.

This episode of "Expected by Whom?" features hosts Sean and a co-host analyzing NHL marketing and lineup strategy. They focus on Connor Bedard's arrival in Chicago and the tactical use of 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineups. The hosts argue the NHL's best marketing opportunity in decades is Connor Bedard playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, a team in North America's third-largest TV market. They compare this to the NFL's "Taylor Swift bump" and Wayne Gretzky's impact in Los Angeles. Sean cites Nielsen TV share ratings to claim this is bigger for national relevance than Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh or Connor McDavid in Edmonton. The conversation shifts to the strategic deployment of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen, a lineup used in nearly 9% of games last season. Data shows the Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche utilized this structure most frequently, accounting for about half of all instances. One host suggests this lineup maximizes a "strong link" game by increasing ice time for elite players like McDavid, while another notes it requires exceptional bench management to avoid players getting lost. An unnamed AHL coach stated he would never use this tactic in a development league. The hosts speculate that Montreal's struggles with the format could reflect coach Martin St. Louis's relative inexperience with NHL bench management. They discuss how the Detroit Red Wings, with new defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, might employ the 11-7 look to create power-play specialists. The episode includes an interview with Kitchener Rangers Assistant GM Mike Zsolt, who details his transition from private equity and blogging to a front-office role. Zsolt explains his duties encompass analytics, scouting nearly 200 games a year, player development, and managing billet families for teenage players. He emphasizes the importance of developing players off the ice during their formative years from ages 15 to 20, with most day-to-day communication handled by coaches. The tone is analytical and conversational, blending data-driven arguments with practical hockey observations. Listeners who enjoy strategic debates about league marketing, lineup optimization, and front-office insights will appreciate this episode. Those seeking pure game recaps or player interviews might find the analytical deep-dive less engaging.

As heard by us

A patient junior-hockey interview anchored by a wider talk about data and hockey coverage.

The episode starts by treating Conor Bedard as the NHL's best marketing opportunity in the United States in quite some time, then shifts into a talk about data, sharing information, and how writers turn that material into hockey coverage.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a hockey conversation that starts with Conor Bedard buzz and then shifts into junior-league decision-making.

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