Ep. 400 (12/13/25): A Look Into an NHL Front Office with Special Returning Guest - Michael Santos, Longtime NHL Executive

In his celebratory 400th episode, Joey has the privilege of being joined by returning guest and longtime NHL executive Michael Santos. Santos gives an inside look into the roles of Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations for an NHL team. To start, Santos discusses the interview process of prospects for the NHL Draft and how trade talks develop between clubs. Additionally, Santos updates listeners on his soon-to-be released software application, Hockey Intelligence Agency (HIA), which will allow hockey fans to act as the general manager of their favorite team. HIA will help users compare a player’s talent and their production from one professional league versus a player from another (e.g., the USHL vs. OHL). Following that, Santos talks about the growth of the NHL, including potential expansion and the rise of the salary cap. Also, Santos breaks down the NHL’s new long-term injured reserve rule and what an executive’s strategy is for salary arbitration cases.