Ryan Lambert

I've been doing takes about NCAA hockey and the NHL for a long time. And I haven't been wrong yet.

Take Town

Sep 17, 2026

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10 min read

Take Town: Contention windows and you

In the weekly free post for all subscribers, I've got thoughts on what it means to be "competitive," the future of the Red Wings, the future of max-term contracts, and Hellebuyck's holdout.

Ryan Lambert

Player empowerment

What We Learned: Why do so many teams have vacant captaincies?

Sep 14, 2026

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7 min read

What We Learned: Why do so many teams have vacant captaincies?

As it stands today, almost a third of NHL teams do not have a captain, and two more just named theirs in the past year. What's up with that? Plus thoughts on all 32 teams.

Ryan Lambert

Takes

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 10-6

Sep 11, 2026

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7 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 10-6

We're into the home stretch on the Simpsons Rank, and finding out what it feels like when doves cry.

Ryan Lambert

Take Town

Sep 10, 2026

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9 min read

Take Town: Why can't we just call it what it is?

It's the weekly free post for subscribers, with thoughts on the Red Wings still not having a GM, the Kreider contract termination, Kucherov's next deal, and the NHL player media tour.

Ryan Lambert

Takes

How I would fix the EA NHL games if they put me in charge (they should)

Sep 8, 2026

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7 min read

How I would fix the EA NHL games if they put me in charge (they should)

We've all seen the face scans, the in-game footage, and the revelation that they used AI for commentary. How did EA Sports get here, and how can it fix the NHL game franchise?

Ryan Lambert

MIN

What We Learned: Let's get to the bottom of this Quinn Hughes stuff

Sep 7, 2026

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8 min read

What We Learned: Let's get to the bottom of this Quinn Hughes stuff

People have been mentally preparing themselves for a Quinn Hughes trade for most of the last couple. But how serious do we really want to be about it?

Ryan Lambert

Takes

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 20-11

Sep 4, 2026

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9 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 20-11

We continue our descent into madness with all-time performances from the main cast, musical numbers, and more.

Ryan Lambert

ANA

Take Town: What are the Nashville Predators up to?

Sep 3, 2026

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8 min read

Take Town: What are the Nashville Predators up to?

It's the weekly free post, with takes on: whether the Preds have something up their sleeve, a bunch of teams turning to Amazon Prime for their TV, and vacant captaincies around the league.

Ryan Lambert

Takes

The ace's influence catapults AEW into a new era

Sep 1, 2026

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6 min read

The ace's influence catapults AEW into a new era

In the main event of All Elite Wrestling's biggest show of the year, the driving philosophical force came from a man who wasn't even in the match. Jon Moxley is the ace of the world.

Ryan Lambert

Money talks

What We Learned: What does it mean to get a max contract?

Aug 31, 2026

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7 min read

What We Learned: What does it mean to get a max contract?

The Leo Carlsson offer sheet changed the game in the NHL, maybe forever. Just a few months later, we're already seeing how that affects Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and every other elite player.

Ryan Lambert

Not hockey

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 30-21

Aug 28, 2026

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8 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 30-21

The mystical journey continues with a slate of Homer/Marge episodes, reflections on childhood naivety, and more.

Ryan Lambert

Take Town

Aug 27, 2026

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8 min read

Take Town: Which teams over- and underperformed the most last season?

It's the weekly free post, and it includes all kinds of funny stats about which teams beat or fell short of their expected-goals numbers. Plus thoughts on Victor Hedman and Frank Nazar.

Ryan Lambert

What We Learned

Aug 24, 2026

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8 min read

What We Learned: Is business picking up around Connor Hellebuyck?

The Winnipeg Jets may be getting close to an inflection point with their all-world goalie, but also, who knows? Plus a quick take on all 32 teams.

Ryan Lambert

Not hockey

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 50-31

Aug 21, 2026

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7 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 50-31

In this edition, great guest spots, canon-breaking episodes, and interesting dead ends.

Ryan Lambert

ANA

Take Town: I have the perfect solution for the NHL's summer downtime

Aug 20, 2026

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8 min read

Take Town: I have the perfect solution for the NHL's summer downtime

If you're bored with NHL's long, do-nothing summers, here's a change that can kill two, three, maybe even four birds with one stone. Plus takes on Cutter Gauthier and Adam Fantilli.

Ryan Lambert

Not hockey

A new world must be born before the old one can die

Aug 18, 2026

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5 min read

A new world must be born before the old one can die

In the final of New Japan Pro Wrestling's G1 Climax 36, Ryohei Oiwa and Yuya Uemura pulled off a classic evocative of 1970s NWA. By eschewing the modern style, they might have reinvented it.

Ryan Lambert

200 Hockey Men

Aug 17, 2026

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6 min read

What We Learned: The last days of the 200 Hockey Men

If the reported reason Steve Yzerman got the boot in Detroit is true, it signals the end of a century-long era in the sport. Plus a quick take on all 32 teams.

Ryan Lambert

Not hockey

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 75-51

Aug 14, 2026

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9 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 75-51

The ongoing series ranking my favorite Simpsons episode ever continues, with more good takes in here. You gotta read it!

Ryan Lambert

FLA

Take Town: You don't know the window closed until it's nailed shut

Aug 13, 2026

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9 min read

Take Town: You don't know the window closed until it's nailed shut

It's the weekly free post, with takes on competitive windows, executive searches, and video game remasters that cost $50 and don't work especially well.

Ryan Lambert

Money talks

What We Learned: Why NHL expansion is in the air this summer

Aug 10, 2026

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8 min read

What We Learned: Why NHL expansion is in the air this summer

Lots of talk about expansion in the past few days. It doesn't take a financial genius to figure out why.

Ryan Lambert

Take Town

Aug 6, 2026

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7 min read

Take Town: Hot weather. Hot seats?

Are only three coaches on the hot seat? Why haven't the Jets traded Hellebuyck? Who benefits, and how, from an 84-game schedule? I'll tell you in a second!

Ryan Lambert

Not hockey

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 100-76

Aug 5, 2026

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8 min read

The 100 best Simpsons episodes of all time: Nos. 100-76

The purpose of this newsletter is to have perfect takes about "hockey and other stuff." Well, "The Simpsons" is the media property of my life. Now I am ranking the 100 best episodes.

Ryan Lambert

VAN

What We Learned: How do you know if a team owner is actually good at owning a team?

Aug 3, 2026

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7 min read

What We Learned: How do you know if a team owner is actually good at owning a team?

Being a good NHL owner isn't easy, but there are three main traits that separate them from the many bad owners across the league.

Ryan Lambert

Take Town

Jul 30, 2026

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5 min read

Take Town: Celebrin good times come on

Join me now for takes on Macklin Celebrini's new deal, the one that might come soon for Quinn Hughes, and whatever's going on with Detroit's GM search.

Ryan Lambert

Money talks

Sportsnet continues screwing the fans, but the NHL doesn't have to care

Jul 28, 2026

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4 min read

Sportsnet continues screwing the fans, but the NHL doesn't have to care

The new Rogers/Amazon deal is another blow for hockey fans' wallets. But everyone will get to say they don't have a choice in the matter, and the NHL walks away smiling.

Ryan Lambert