Rocco Zappia

Co-Host of @PuckBunker. Covering the NHL Draft for various outlets since the 2016 Draft.

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@RidingThePine21 @Paulywhirl @tastyshreds For sure, that's just the one I know of

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

One of the most fun episodes we've recorded, to date! We sat down with @EJHradek_NHL of the NHL Network for a deep dive into the modern game!

How are NHL teams evaluating prospects today? What has changed in scouting? How much do analytics actually matter? What separates a highly touted prospect from a player who becomes a legitimate NHL impact player?

E.J. Hradek brings decades of NHL experience and a unique perspective on where scouting, player development, analytics and talent evaluation are headed.

We get into:

🔹 Modern NHL scouting
🔹 Analytics vs. traditional evaluation
🔹 Prospect development
🔹 NHL Draft evaluation
🔹 Identifying future NHL talent
🔹 Why some prospects make it and others don't
🔹 The changing demands of the NHL
🔹 Technology and player evaluation
🔹 How organizations develop young players
🔹 The future of NHL scouting

If you follow the NHL, NHL Draft, prospects, scouting, player development or hockey analytics, you’ll want this one.

WATCH / LISTEN NOW!

@PuckBunkerBoyce @puckbunker @SMWW

#NHL #Hockey #NHLNetwork #EJHradek #NHL2026 #NHLDraft #NHLProspects #HockeyTwitter #NHLTwitter #HockeyFans

https://t.co/NS9RppBcQZ

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@TheDirtyOlive15

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

Beer league starts back up tonight. I've reached the point in my life where I no longer show up thinking, "I wonder if my summer workouts helped my game". It's now more along the lines of "well, let's see what Father Time took from you this summer, you fat POS". Sigh.

[Marco D'Amico @mndamico]

The NHL maintaining a decentralized draft is incredibly disappointing.

It was the one thing they did better than any other league. The vibe in the city, all the teams and scouts, the draft floor, the excitement for the players.

The players and fans deserve better.

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

Boo. Centralize the Draft!

[Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun]

The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the de-centralized format for a third year in a row, the league confirms.

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

The highlight of the assist went around yesterday, but here's the Full Shift for Sergei Skvortsov (#9 in White). Yes, it was a great play to find the trailer and taking the hit to make the play. It was also great that he popped back up and went straight to the front of the net. But let's see how this play actually starts, which is maybe the most impressive part of the sequence. First, he tries to make a sliding "kick-save-and-a-beauty" on the shot block attempt, and then gets up and uses some good-ol'-fashioned hustle to turn the puck over and start the rush up ice. Details matter. This goal doesn't happen without a strong play in the DZ first. #NHLDraft #NHLDraft2027 #2027NHLDraft #Skvortsov #KHL #HockeyProspects #HockeyTwitter @PuckBunkerBoyce @puckbunker

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@khl_eng @shawvillemurray

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@PBaracchini @TheHockeyWriter @StixInThe6ixPod @Hockeypodnet Nice work, Pete! We're finalizing ours this week (right @PuckBunkerBoyce?), and while the order will look a bit different we will have a lot of the same names.

Hockey is finally back!

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@TheDirtyOlive15

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

Refreshing. Maybe hockey isn't turning into the NBA after all.

[R i N K Y @RinkyReport]

Demidov's agent, Dan Milstein, about the contract: "If I had it my way, the deal probably would have looked a little different,” Milstein told The Gazette in a phone interview from near his Stuart, Fla., home. “Ivan basically said he wanted the eight-year deal. He wanted it done quickly and wanted to leave room (financially) for Montreal to get even better.

“His exact words were, ‘We’re in a great situation. I feel like we’re going to be winning for many years.�� He wanted to leave money on the table so they can sign other players." Per Herb Zurkowsky #NHL #Habs #GoHabsGo

[Grant McCagg @grantmccagg]

🎙️FULL PODCAST HERE:🎙️
https://t.co/AfEyaaUauA

@EricMacramalla @ScoutRocco @BlainPotvin_THW @Rick1042

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

Always great to join Grant, Rick, and the Habscast crew! See you tonight at 7!

[Grant McCagg @grantmccagg]

It's HabsCast's first Anniversary tonight, and it promises to be a great one with @EricMacramalla, @BlainPotvin_THW, @Rick1042 and @ScoutRocco all joining me to celebrate. And BTW - Lane Hutson WILL surpass Quinn Hughes THIS season! See you at 7 PM on YouTube. #GoHabsGo

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

🚨 THE SENATORS’ TIME IS NOW… OR IS IT? 👀

The @Senators are entering a HUGE 2026-27 season.

Are the Sens actually ready to become a legitimate Stanley Cup Playoff team — or is the roster still missing a major piece?

We sat down with @RossLevitan & @brandonpiller1 of @LockedOn_Sens to break down EVERYTHING:

🏒 Brady Tkachuk
🏒 Linus Ullmark
🏒 Carter Yakemchuk
🏒 Logan Hensler
🏒 Drake Batherson
🏒 Andrei Burakovsky
🏒 Trades & free agency
🏒 Salary cap
🏒 Biggest roster need
🏒 Ottawa’s win-now window
🏒 2026-27 predictions

🔥 ONE QUESTION FOR SENS FANS:
How do you feel going into the 2026/2027 season!?

👇 Drop it below.

Full episode out now.

@puckbunker @PuckBunkerBoyce

#GoSensGo #OttawaSenators #Sens #NHL #NHLNews #NHLHockey #Hockey #HockeyTwitter #HockeyTalk #NHLTrade #NHLFreeAgency #NHLPlayoffs #StanleyCup #EasternConference #SensArmy #OttawaHockey #Senators #LockedOnSenators #BradyTkachuk #LinusUllmark

https://t.co/KmKGHt0x39

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@MD_scouting

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@KirstenKrull It's not old. At all.

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

@CorpusMagus Should be up to the parents, period

[Rocco Zappia @ScoutRocco]

🏒🔥 ST. LOUIS BLUES 2026 OFFSEASON OUTLOOK — FULL BREAKDOWN WITH @NHLFoley

The @StLouisBlues have reached another important point in the organization’s development, and the decisions made during the 2026 NHL offseason could have a major impact on the direction of this team heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.

In our latest podcast, we’re joined by Gabriel Foley for a deep dive into the Blues and everything surrounding their offseason.

We discuss the current St. Louis Blues roster, organizational direction, young players, prospects, player development, potential trades, NHL free agency, the NHL Draft, and what St. Louis needs to do to continue building toward becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

👀 BLUES FANS — WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

What is the ONE move you want the St. Louis Blues to make this offseason?
Should they make a big trade?
Should they spend in free agency?
Should they continue building through their prospects?
Or is patience the best approach?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the replies and let’s talk Blues hockey!

If you’re a St. Louis Blues fan, NHL fan, hockey prospect enthusiast, fantasy hockey player, or just love talking hockey, make sure to check out the full episode.

👍 Like
🔁 Repost
💬 Comment
⭐ Follow
🔔 Subscribe

And share this episode with another Blues fan!

@PuckBunkerBoyce @puckbunker

#NHL #NHLHockey #Hockey #HockeyFans #HockeyPodcast #NHLPodcast #NHLNews #NHLAnalysis #NHL2026 #NHL2027 #NHLSeason #NHLFreeAgency #NHLFreeAgency2026 #NHLTrades #NHLTradeRumors #NHLRumors #NHLProspects #NHLDraft #NHLDraft2026 #HockeyProspects #ProspectWatch #ProspectDevelopment #HockeyTalk #HockeyDiscussion #HockeyCommunity #HockeyTwitter #HockeyX #HockeyYouTube #NHLFans #HockeyFans #IceHockey #ProHockey #StanleyCup #StanleyCupPlayoffs #NHLPlayoffs #CentralDivision #StLouis #StLouisSports #StLouisBlues #STLBlues #Blues #BluesHockey #LetsGoBlues #BluesNation #BluesFans #BluesArmy #StLouisBluesFans #StLouisBluesHockey #STL #GabrielFoley

https://t.co/6FxceYN4lZ

[Darren Boyce @PuckBunkerBoyce]

🏒🔥 ST. LOUIS BLUES 2026 OFFSEASON OUTLOOK — FULL BREAKDOWN WITH @NHLFoley

The @StLouisBlues have reached another important point in the organization’s development, and the decisions made during the 2026 NHL offseason could have a major impact on the direction of this team heading into the 2026-27 NHL season.

In our latest podcast, we’re joined by Gabriel Foley for a deep dive into the Blues and everything surrounding their offseason.

We discuss the current St. Louis Blues roster, organizational direction, young players, prospects, player development, potential trades, NHL free agency, the NHL Draft, and what St. Louis needs to do to continue building toward becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

👀 BLUES FANS — WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

What is the ONE move you want the St. Louis Blues to make this offseason?
Should they make a big trade?
Should they spend in free agency?
Should they continue building through their prospects?
Or is patience the best approach?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the replies and let’s talk Blues hockey!

If you’re a St. Louis Blues fan, NHL fan, hockey prospect enthusiast, fantasy hockey player, or just love talking hockey, make sure to check out the full episode.

👍 Like
🔁 Repost
💬 Comment
⭐ Follow
🔔 Subscribe

And share this episode with another Blues fan!

Pod Cast: https://t.co/pvi9SSXGlr

@ScoutRocco @puckbunker

#NHL #NHLHockey #Hockey #HockeyFans #HockeyPodcast #NHLPodcast #NHLNews #NHLAnalysis #NHL2026 #NHL2027 #NHLSeason #NHLFreeAgency #NHLFreeAgency2026 #NHLTrades #NHLTradeRumors #NHLRumors #NHLProspects #NHLDraft #NHLDraft2026 #HockeyProspects #ProspectWatch #ProspectDevelopment #HockeyTalk #HockeyDiscussion #HockeyCommunity #HockeyTwitter #HockeyX #HockeyYouTube #NHLFans #HockeyFans #IceHockey #ProHockey #StanleyCup #StanleyCupPlayoffs #NHLPlayoffs #CentralDivision #StLouis #StLouisSports #StLouisBlues #STLBlues #Blues #BluesHockey #LetsGoBlues #BluesNation #BluesFans #BluesArmy #StLouisBluesFans #StLouisBluesHockey #STL #GabrielFoley