When hockey talk meets social commentary, you get the authentic, unfiltered perspectives that make Offside with Hawes and Maguire so compelling. Our hosts reconnect after their recent travels with a passionate deep-dive into the hockey world's most talked-about topics.

The conversation kicks off with a celebration of the Hosie and Brown Hockey Pool champion who used an algorithm to draft his winning team—proving once again that in sports, analytics sometimes trump gut feelings. This transitions into a fiery debate about Alexander Ovechkin's record-breaking goal chase and whether historical context matters when comparing eras. Should modern overtime rules and scoring conditions affect how we view these achievements compared to Gretzky's era? The hosts don't hold back their opinions.

The Calder Trophy race receives thorough examination, with Lane Hudson emerging as the clear frontrunner despite strong competition from Macklin Celebrini. Their analysis goes beyond statistics to consider team situations and historical precedents for rookie defensemen who transformed struggling franchises.

Things take an unexpected turn when the conversation shifts to beloved Ottawa institution The Prescott Hotel, famous for its square pizza and meatball subs. This nostalgia trip evolves into passionate advocacy for cash payments and economic inclusivity, showcasing how hockey conversations naturally flow into deeper social observations.

The episode concludes with This Day in Hockey History brought to you by Shoeless Joes, and a fascinating look back at Ottawa's last Stanley Cup victory in 1927—a dramatic win over Boston that featured both heroic performances and a post-game brawl that resulted in a lifetime suspension. Almost a century later, could today's Senators finally be building toward something special?

Whether you're a stats junkie, history buff, or just love authentic hockey talk with personality, this episode delivers the perfect blend of analysis, storytelling, and unvarnished opinion. Share your thoughts with us online—we'd love to hear your take on these hockey debates!