The Instigator Podcast

The first Queen City Hockey Expo takes place on Sunday, August 9 at Buffalo Riverworks. Event organizer and founder Chris Holmes joins the show to discuss the event and what attendees can expect. The event inclues a gear swap and several events and seminars that will take place during the day.

As July comes to an end, it seemed like a perfect time for a mailbag episode. This edition's listener questions include a querey on Connor McDavid, line combinations for next season, the ever concerning power play and more! Thanks to everyone who submitted questions.

The Sabres were active in the leadup to the NHL Draft, moving on from Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch. Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier have arrived to shore up the blueline, but it appears to be status quo up front. We discuss whether or not the Sabres are a stronger team after the moves made by Jarmo Kekäläinen this offseason. A packed, but young forward group is the focus of the co...

The Sabres exited the draft with a pair of first round prospects and Olen Zellweger. We run through the work that wrapped up the prior week for the Sabres, where Zellweger fits and what Buffalo's trade chips look like after the draft. We also discuss what's left to do in order to round out the roster and which players in a thin free agent class would fit on the Sabres roster.

Bowen Byram was traded to Chicago in a stunning deal that sends the fourth overall pick back to the Sabres just three days before the 2026 NHL Draft. We break down the Bryam trade and offer our insight on what may be coming next for the Sabres who suddenly have the ammunition to make a big deal of their own. We run through Buffalo's options with the fourth pick, the 20th pick an...