Podcast Ombudsman Report for Blueshirt Bandwidth Ep. 88

Welcome back to the Blueshirt Bandwidth Podcast Ombudsman Report. Each week, Charlie Vidal will listen to the latest episode of the podcast and correct the record on anything Joe and Eric get wrong. If you aren't already, you can listen and subscribe to the podcast here.

Episode 88

While discussing the Eric Lindros episode, Chip said that he viewed the New York Rangers acquiring Lindros as similar to the Rangers acquiring Brad Richards.

Lindros and Richards were acquired at different points in their career. Lindros was acquired via trade coming into his age 28 season, having sat out the entire 2000-01 season due to concussions. Richards signed the largest (by cap percentage) contract in NHL history at the time coming into his age 31 season.

Chip then said that, “a team that had Lindros and Jagr would be great.” Jagr didn’t arrive in New York until Jan. 2004, and the pair only played three games together before Lindros was shut down for the season with yet another concussion.

The boys then commented that Lindros was hurt for “different reasons” related to Scott Stevens:

This would not be legal in today’s NHL.

Steve Yzerman

While discussing Dylan Larkin’s trade request, it was noted that the Detroit Red Wings have “missed the playoffs a bunch” lately.

In the Ombudsman Report for Ep. 66, we looked at Steve Yzerman’s record as general manager of the Red Wings. This was Yzerman’s seventh season as Red Wings GM, and he has yet to make the playoffs. In Dylan Larkin’s rookie year, the Red Wings made the playoffs and were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. The Wings have not been back to the playoffs in the 10 season since.

Free Agents on the Market

Alex Tuch is continually mentioned as the only impact free agent available this off season, but he is not a center. Here is a list of the centers who are UFAs with their 2025-26 point totals: