Joining us for Episode 6 of The Asterisk is Barry Smith, Director of Player Evaluation for the Chicago Blackhawks. Smith is in his ninth season with the Hawks, previously serving as an Assistant Coach, Director of Player Development, a European Development Advisor and a Pro Scout. Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Smith was the head coach of SKA St. Petersburg and an assistant coach in Arizona under Wayne Gretzky. Oh, and he won three Stanley Cups in Detroit, where he was the assistant coach from 1994-2005. Long story short, he knows a thing or two about the sport. Smith shares what it was like to help young prospects train during the pandemic, while also predicting some future NHL schedule changes as a result of the bizarre year that was 2020.

Joining us for Episode 7 of The Asterisk is Trevor Connie, who served as the chef-in-residence inside the Edmonton bubble during the 2020 NHL playoffs. We discuss the former MasterChef Canada winner's subtly tricky task of preparing the pre- and post-game meals for over 200 NHL players. Connie, who was around the players during their pregame routines daily, also shares his thoughts on what it took to win the 2020 Stanley Cup.

Joining us for Episode 6 of The Asterisk is Axios sports editor Kendall Baker. Axios is a media company built on distributing content in an efficient, matter of fact manner, and Baker brings the company’s ethos to sports, crafting the daily Axios sports newsletter and covering stats and sports that matter right now. In this episode, Baker shares his thoughts on the NHL's handling of its "playoff bubble" in comparison to how the NBA went about completing its post season. The journalist also discusses how the NHL could do a better job of marketing its players.

Joining us for Episode 5 of The Asterisk is Brett Peterson, who was recently hired to be the Florida Panther’s new assistant general manager. Prior to the hire, Peterson was the Vice President of Wasserman Hockey, an agency representing players like Tuukka Rask, Luke Kunin, and Vinnie Hinostroza. He was recently named to The Athletic’s 40-under-40, a list highlighting some of the up-and-coming executives, coaches, scouts, and agents in the hockey world that will help shape the game in the next generation. We touched on several topics with Peterson, including college hockey, NHL players kneeling during the National Anthem, and how future generations will view the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Joining us for Episode 4 of The Asterisk is Carolina Hurricanes forward Vince Trocheck, who just completed his fifth full season in the NHL. The Pittsburgh native registered two points in 10 games during the Coronavirus Cup before the Canes were eliminated by the Bruins in the second round. Trocheck shared what it was like to be inside the 2020 NHL playoff bubble, while also discussing quarantine training techniques and the level of play throughout the playoffs.

Joining us for Episode 3 of The Asterisk is Steve Reich, an NHLPA Certified Agent who’s been representing professional hockey players since 1987. The list of high profile players Reich has represented throughout his career is lengthy, starting in the ’90s when his client list included perennial All Stars like Mario Lemieux, Chris Chelios, Tom Barrasso, and Ron Francis. Nowadays, Reich is a member of the O2K Management team, which represents several NHL players, including Wayne Simmonds, Vince Trocheck, T.J. Oshie, and Derek Stepan. In this episode, Reich shed some light on the negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA that led to the ratification of a new CBA.

Joining us for Episode 2 of The Asterisk is Associated Press hockey writer Stephen Whyno, who has covered the NHL and D.C. area sports for years, contributing for the Associated Press along with notable news outlets like ABC News, Business Insider and The Washington Post. Our conversation with Stephen took us back to the fall of 2019, when several coaches — including Mike Babcock and Bill Peters — lost their jobs. Whyno discussed the NHL's reckoning behind the bench, while also commenting on the always entertaining John Tortorella.

Joining us for Episode 1 of The Asterisk is ESPN anchor John Buccigross, who’s also the voice of the Frozen Four, creator of the #bucciovertimechallenge, and a huge advocate for the game of hockey. Buccigross dropped some insightful commentary on several topics that unfolded throughout the 2019-2020 season, starting with Don Cherry’s fall from grace just one month into the season. We’ll dive into the saga that led to Cherry’s downfall along with his thoughts on the Coronavirus Cup.

“The Asterisk” is a serialized podcast about how events throughout the 2019-2020 NHL season will echo across the ice for generations. In this eight-part series, we chronicle the downfall of Don Cherry, what led to the undoing of the league’s highest-paid coach, how race is now being discussed in the locker rooms and front offices, and what the impact of the coronavirus will be on the league for years to come. Along the way, we interview players, coaches, and journalists to highlight the monumental impact the last 15 months had on the sport. The Tampa Bay Lightning ultimately took home the 2020 Coronavirus Cup. Only one question remains: will they have an Asterisk next to their name?