Ep. 64 – NHL Playoff Matchups Are Set + Leafs GM Hunt & Kraken Future

Episode 64 of Buds Mafia is all about the NHL playoff picture… and some of these matchups are going to be insane.We break down the full playoff bracket, go through each matchup, and give our thoughts on how things could play out across both conferences.We also get into:Cole Caufield vs Kirill Kaprizov — who would you take?Ron Francis stepping down in Seattle + what it means for the KrakenTJ Hughes signing with Colorado after a dominant NCAA run40-goal seasons from Stamkos and GuentherRocket Richard race heating upLeafs talk:Toronto sitting near the bottom of the leagueGM search and the Sunny Mehta rumorsRecent losses and what’s next for this teamWe also cover:Ryan’s 2025–26 predictions (and how brutal they are)Full division breakdown and playoff projectionsThen we shift into:Masters talk — Rory going back-to-backThe criticism around him and why it doesn’t make senseRBC Heritage preview + picksPlus:Lock of the WeekBet the FarmThe playoff picture is set.The debates are heating up.And there’s a lot to break down.🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 📱 Follow us everywhere → @budsandpucks ⏱️ CHAPTERS (00:00) — Intro (01:47) — Draft or Dump(06:25) — Caufield or Kaprizov?(9:46) — Ron Francis and the Seattle Kraken(14:47) — News Around the League(16:43) — Ryans 2025-26 Season Predictions Recap(18:51) — Eastern Conference Playoffs(26:50) — Western Conference Playoffs(36:08) — Leafs Talk(41:25) — Masters Recap and RBC Heritage(47:57) — Betting Segments and Wrap-Up