Empty Netters Podcast – Ep: “Did Tate McRae Ruin The Devils Season?!”

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Dan Powers
Co-Hosts: Chris Powers (remote), Sean Buffini
Podcast by: Almost Friday Media

Overview

This episode of Empty Netters is true to form: rowdy, hockey-obsessed, and broaching the absurd as much as the analytical. The crew dives headfirst into the midseason NHL storylines, dissecting the New Jersey Devils’ implosion (with tongue-in-cheek blame on pop star Tate McRae and more seriously on mutton ragu and organizational issues), big league blowouts, who’s hot and not, their own “midseason awards,” and some can’t-miss betting segments. Along the way, notable banter covers food gripes, life lessons, and signature games.

Main Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. The Devastation of the Devils (00:31–14:52)

• Lead Story: The New Jersey Devils get utterly “piss-pumped” 9-0 by the New York Islanders.
• Islanders Praise:
  • Sorokin returns from injury, posts 44-save shutout.
  • Anthony Duclair gets a hat trick and five points ("natural Hattie").
  • Islanders tie a franchise record for largest shutout win margin (since 1986).

Dissecting the Devils’ Disintegration

• Despite firing 44 shots, Devils get shut out (“scoreboard tells a different story than the shots” - [02:37] Chris Powers).
• Goalie Management Debate:
  • Was it cruel to leave Markstrom in for all nine goals, or “warrior code”?
    • “If I were a goalie, I would want to stay in because getting yanked is humiliating too. I would rather die on my shield.” – Dan Powers [05:11]

The “Tate McRae Curse” Theory (07:19–10:14)

• Jack Hughes’ relationship with Tate McRae and a possibly cursed beanie/mutton dinner are blamed for the team’s midseason collapse:
  • Pre-dinner: Devils were 13-6-1; Post-dinner: 9-13-1.
  • “Is it a Tate McCrae curse, which I would hate to see? ... Or was it the beanie at dinner curse?” – Chris Powers [08:27]
  • “We love love! We are champions of love. ... But... in a season where the Devils need to get back on track, ... we don’t need distractions.” – Dan Powers [09:37]
  • “We can’t be entirely sure that Tate McRae isn’t a saboteur.” – Dan Powers [10:44]

Devils’ Organizational Outlook

• Fired up discussion on whether firings/trades are needed:
  • Dan: “Dougie Hamilton needs to be traded from this team.” [12:28]
  • Chris: "No one will be fired this year ... they will be buyers." [11:51]
  • Chris and Dan butt heads over just how close they are to a crisis:
    • “You gotta listen to me, bud.” – Dan Powers [14:04]

2. Ducks in a Tailspin, but Keep Calm? (14:52–20:48)

• The Problem:

  • Ducks, once Pacific division darlings, lose 3 straight, give up crazy goal numbers.
  • Defensive play and young blueliners cause for concern, but correspondence is optimistic.

• Perspective:

  • “This might be just what they needed ... you wanted some adversity. ... Feed me this problem right now. … I still have them in playoffs comfortably.” — Chris Powers [16:05]
  • Dan points to Mason McTavish underperforming relative to contract/expectations [18:19], and the bumps that follow late contract arrivals.

• Trade Deadline Strategy:

  • Add depth, not stars: “Take a page out of the Lightning book ... veteran bottom six presence.” — Chris [21:26]
  • Dan: “Not sure I’m shaking that [forward group] up—when healthy.”

3. Trevor Zegras: New NHL Villain With the Flyers (21:26–27:20)

• Zegras explodes for 2 goals vs. his former Ducks.

• Vengeance Narrative:

  • “He’s a villain. He should be a villain ... I want you to go the other way and reach your potential: become a Sith.” — Chris Powers [25:14]
  • Dan proposes maybe Zegras is a “Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you know? He’s the mischief king. ... Maybe he’s just a trickster.” [26:01]

• Interview highlights Zegras’s unfiltered postgame happiness:

  • “It felt fucking amazing. Felt fucking amazing.”—Zegras, postgame [22:58]

• Connection: Cross-conference rivalries stoked by player swaps (Cutter to Ducks, Zegras to Flyers).

• Flyers Optimism:

  • “This Flyers team is legit, man. ... They are a very, very awesome shift ... through all phases.” — Dan [27:20]
  • Goaltending question answered by Vladar’s ascendance.

4. Rangers: Injury Woes and Should They Sell? (27:31–31:25)

• Rangers hit bad luck: Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox to LTIR.
• Dan points out cosmic irony (“karma” for Seth Jones incident [28:11]).
• Both hosts agree: time to get ahead of a “fire sale” and rebuild:
  • “I would straight up go: Shesterkin and Adam Fox, Gabe Perrault and Will Cuylle, probably the only guys that I would say are not available. Everyone else.” — Dan [30:38]

5. Hot Ice: Dallas Stars Pee-Pee Whack Alert (31:25–36:53)

• Stars Bleeding Goals Again:
  • Giving up 4+ goals in six straight games, lost all.
• Not frauds, yet, but: “If you want to be taken seriously, ... this can’t be happening.” — Dan [34:56]
• Otter’s (Jake Oettinger’s) goaltending inconsistency is noted: “He’s been so good and so average ... back and forth.” — Chris [34:56]

6. Midseason Awards (37:52–57:38)

Hart Trophy (MVP)

• Dan: Macklin Celebrini (Sharks) “through 42 games, 64 pts, ... plus-15, playoff spot, miles ahead of next teammate.” [38:35]
• Chris: “If McDavid goes 150 burger again, you can't take it from him.” [42:54]

Norris (Best Defenseman)

• Chris: Lane Hudson (Habs) – if he closes scoring gap.
• Dan: Zach Werenski (CBJ) “is, at the moment, feeling like the only good thing about this Columbus Blue Jackets team ... he does it every single night and defensively as well.” [45:51]

Vezina (Best Goalie)

• Dan: Jesper Wallstedt (Wild) ("The Wall of St. Paul") [49:18]
• Chris: Mackenzie Blackwood (Avalanche): “He’s lost twice this year. If he plays half the games with these numbers...they should give him the Vezina.” [51:37]

Calder (Rookie of the Year)

• Chris: Schaefer ("for actual goals ... as a 13-year-old"—exaggeration for effect—for Islanders) [51:49]
• Dan: “It’s Schaefer or Wall (Jesper Wallstedt) ... 1A and 1B” [53:35]

Selke (Best Defensive Forward)

• Both: Anthony Cirelli (“Selkie level masterclass center”) [54:03].
• Honorable: Nick Suzuki (more offensive pop).

Jack Adams (Coach of the Year)

• Chris: Rick Tocchet (Flyers) — "getting stuff out of Zegras...big turnaround" [55:40]
• Dan: Jared Bednar (Avalanche) for being so dominant in the brutal Central – "At what point do we not give him some love?" [57:11]

7. Professor Parlay: Betting and Puck Line Picks (60:09–71:26)

• Friday Fade: Kings at Jets—Jets are the “auto-fade.” [61:08]
• Saturday Sally (Anytime Goal): Nathan MacKinnon for a bounce-back against Columbus [62:40]
• Sunday Hat Trick Parlay: Picks Caps at Preds, focus on rested Capitals and Tom Wilson point. [64:08]
• Mega Parlay "Live on a Beach": Each host picks across the schedule—general chaos and laughs.
• Life on the Line Parlay: Themed (and rhymed) explanations for their can’t-miss picks (here for the poetry!) [68:36–71:16]

8. Not Ice: Rant About Fries with Sandwiches (71:36–80:39)

• Chris rants about being charged $5 for fries as a side with his Reuben; main outcome:
  • “If I order my entrée sitting down, I expect the fries to be included; if I order standing up, I expect to pay more.” – Sean Buffini [74:04]
• Strong opinions on tot gods, curly fry heartbreak, and Irish McDonald’s nostalgia.

9. Game Time: Connective Tissue (81:08–85:19)

• NHL Zoom Trivia: Players whose names “connect”; today’s answer: Jordan Kyrou + Roope Hintz = "Jordan Kyroupe Hintz."

Notable & Memorable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• On the Devils collapse:
  • “Are we entirely sure this isn’t Tate McRae’s fault?” – Dan Powers [07:19]
  • “We love love! ... And I don’t want to stand in the way of that. But ... we don’t need distractions.” – Dan Powers [09:37]
• On Markstrom’s nine goals against:
  • “I would rather die on my shield.” – Dan Powers [05:11]
• On Zegras’s Flyers resurgence:
  • “He should be a villain ... I want you to become a Sith.” – Chris Powers [25:14]
  • “It felt fucking amazing. Felt fucking amazing.” – Trevor Zegras [22:58]
• On the Ducks swoon:
  • “This might be just what they needed ... you wanted some adversity. ... I still have them in playoffs comfortably.” — Chris Powers [16:05]
• On fries with sandwiches:
  • “If I order my entrée sitting down, I expect the fries to be included. If I order it standing up, then I expect to pay more for fries.” – Sean Buffini [74:04]

Structure: Episode Flow and Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:30 – Chit-chat; Dan, Chris, Sean return, set the stage.
• 01:31–14:52 – Devils’ blowout to Islanders, Markstrom discussion, “Tate McRae curse.”
• 14:53–20:48 – Ducks’ losing streak, trades or not, keeping cool.
• 21:26–27:20 – Flyers, Trevor Zegras villain arc, intra-NHL drama.
• 27:31–31:25 – Rangers injuries, potential sell-off.
• 31:25–36:53 – Dallas Stars losing streak, defense and goaltending woes.
• 37:52–57:38 – Midseason awards; Hart, Norris, Vezina, Calder, Selke, Jack Adams.
• 60:09–71:26 – Professors’ betting picks, parlay mayhem.
• 71:36–80:39 – Not Ice: The Great Fries Rant.
• 81:08–85:19 – Connective Tissue game, episode close.
• 85:55–87:22 – Outro, sponsor messages, and ad reads.

Tone & Trademark Vibe

Rowdy and irreverent, the Empty Netters blend legitimate hockey analysis and sharp league insight with full-throttle banter, hilarious tangents, and unfiltered, decidedly not-ESPN opinions. Relationship speculation, food rants, and philosophical musings on the NHL and life make this a must-listen for the plugged-in fan who also wants to feel like they’re on a group text with ex-juniors.

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Devils’ season has gone off the rails—potential cause: a mutton-fueled date with a pop star.
• Islanders, Flyers are having big moments, while the Ducks are cooling but not in panic.
• Trevor Zegras is in his villain era, and no longer just the golden boy.
• Rangers appear ready for a serious reset.
• Midseason: Macklin Celebrini, Zach Werenski, Jesper Wallstedt/Mackenzie Blackwood, and Anthony Cirelli all garner “should win if season ended now” votes.
• The podcast’s betting, games, and food takes are as much a draw as the hockey chatter itself.

Bottom Line:
If you missed this week’s episode: The Devils are a meme, fries pricing is a scandal, and the actual title for NHL MVP is up for grabs—but only if you can convince Dan it isn’t Celebrini’s by birthright.