Morning Cuppa Hockey · The Nation Network

Trade Week & Schaefer Elite ft. Stefen Rosner & Dennis Bernstein

·1 hr 18 min·5 clips

Islanders reporter Stefen Rosner says rookie Matthew Schaefer deserves MVP consideration for willing his team to playoffs.

Hosts Johnny Lazarus and Kobe Cohen open this trade deadline week episode with guests Stefan Rosner and Dennis Bernstein. The show begins with a discussion about social media backlash Johnny faced for praising women's college hockey players Caroline Harvey and Lyla Edwards. They then highlight Quinn Hughes's busy media schedule, including an appearance on Saturday Night Live, and share Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin's supportive quote about letting Hughes "soak it in." The hosts analyze potential trade targets for the Minnesota Wild, specifically debating the cost and value of acquiring Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers. They also mention Robert Thomas as another option and note Elliotte Friedman's reporting that Trocheck might prefer to stay closer to the East Coast. Shifting to the New York Islanders, Stefan Rosner details Matvei Michkov's incredible rookie season, noting his 20 goals and role in the team's three consecutive comeback wins. Rosner argues Michkov should be in the Hart Trophy conversation for his value to the Islanders, though the hosts acknowledge a defenseman hasn't won the award since Chris Pronger in 2000. The discussion covers potential Islanders trade targets like Jordan Kyrou and Owen Tippett to bolster their top line with Mathew Barzal. Rosner credits coach Patrick Roy for the team's improved play and his handling of Michkov's immediate major role. A surprising insight is the idea that a player's consistent "lucky bounces," like Michkov's goals, may actually be earned through intelligent positioning. The show notes that if the Islanders make the playoffs, they would be the first team to do so the season after drafting first overall since the 2017-18 New Jersey Devils. The conversation marvels at Michkov being a "freak" exception who bucks the normal development curve for an 18-year-old defenseman. The tone is energetic, conversational, and opinionated, featuring frequent banter between the hosts and interaction with live chat comments. This episode is ideal for listeners who enjoy deadline speculation, analysis of rising stars like Matvei Michkov, and candid hockey talk. Those seeking a tightly structured, formal analysis of trades might find the digressive and chat-driven style less appealing.

As heard by us

Fast deadline-week hockey talk, with enough team context to keep the noise useful.

Morning Cup Hockey works best when it stays on the actual hockey questions: what Schaefer is showing, what Islanders fans should make of the week, and how LA's new coach hire fits the Kings' bigger picture.

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Why you'd press play

You want deadline-week hockey talk that jumps from Schaefer hype to Islanders and Kings news without getting stiff.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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