In this episode of the Locked on NHL podcast, hosts Seth Toupal and JD Young tackle the burning questions facing the Utah Hockey Club and the Vancouver Canucks. We start with Utah and if their built-on-the-fly defense can gel early in the season and if they have the horses to make the playoffs with the additions of Mikhail Sergachev and John Marino. Next, the Vancouver Canucks are loaded but have questions in the net with Thatcher Demko's injury. How long can they survive without Demko, and are they being slept on as a true cup contender? Finally, which Western Conference players are primed to make to take home hardware at the end of the season?

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The teams at the bottom of the Central Division have a way to go to contend with the heavy hitters at the top, but there’s plenty of reason for optimism with the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and Utah Hockey Club going into the 2024-25 season. In this Locked On NHL Season Preview Round Table, Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild), Haley Taylor Simon (Locked On Blues), Chicago Blackhawks (Locked On Blackhawks) and Tom Callahan (Locked On Utah Hockey Club) to break down the state of the Central Division’s playoff hopefuls. Will a second year of Connor Bedard help the Blackhawks improve? Can the Blues bounce back after a disappointing 2023-24? Are the Wild on the clock to convince Kirill Kaprizov to stay? And will the energy of a new fan base in a new city push a young Utah team to improve? All that, plus points over/unders, reasons for optimism, offseason additions, breakout players, and what’s at stake for these teams if they miss the playoffs once again.

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

After a half decade-plus of trying and failing to crack the Top-4 of the NHL’s Atlantic Division, are one or more of the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings primed to finally get back to the playoffs? And are the Montreal Canadiens happy to chill out at the bottom of the standings for one more year? In this special Locked On NHL Season Preview Round Table, Ross Levitan (Locked On Senators), Joe DiBiase (Locked On Sabres), Laura Saba (Locked On Canadiens) and Brian Fisher (Locked On Red Wings) take stock of the Atlantic’s playoff hopefuls. How will the Linus Ullmark addition change the Senators’ fortunes. What’s the temperature on the Yzer-Plan in Detroit? Can the Sabres afford to add to their league-worst 13-year playoff drought? And are the Canadiens another high draft pick away from becoming a real problem?Plus, the biggest reasons for optimism for each team, key offseason additions, breakout players and what’s at stake if their team misses out on the playoffs... again.

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Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNHL and get $50 instantly when you play $5. PrizePicks. Run Your Game.

FanDuel
Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - guaranteed ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.

Indeed
Still searching for a great candidate for your company? Don’t search, just match–with Indeed.Claim your SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR CREDIT now at Indeed.com/LOCKEDON. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com(KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)