The Athletic Hockey Show

When the Winnipeg Jets traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils 17 days ago, everyone circled November 10 on the calendar, the date of the three-time Vezina winner’s first trip back to Winnipeg to face his former team. But, Devils GM Sunny Mehta had other plans, pulling the plug on Hellebuyck’s start on Tuesday, citing “win probability” as the reason in a public statement Sunday night. Today, Laz, Jesse, and Shayna break down why it was the wrong move for the star netminder, the Devils organization, and anyone who wants to be entertained while watching a hockey game. Before that, the crew discusses the disastrous Chicago Blackhawks who are sticking with head coach Jeff Blashill despite a 4-13-1 start, the dangers of a teardown rebuild, and which currently rebuilding teams are actually doing it right. Plus, our weekly check of the Connor McData and whether No. 97 should be in the Selke mix at the end of the season.Hosts: Mark Lazerus and Jesse GrangerWith: Shayna GoldmanExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Patrice Bergeron discusses his storied career, why the current edition of the Boston Bruins should be feared, Sidney Crosby's legacy and what he thinks of star players demanding trades with term left on their contracts. The Winnipeg Jets set an NHL record with the latest 4-goal comeback win in league history vs.the Canadiens on Tuesday night, and Frankie Corrado was in the building to witness the much needed win for the Jets. Connor Hellebuyck releases a damage control instagram post directed at Winnipeg hockey fans, the Detroit Red Wings ask Dylan Larkin's agents to expand his trade list, which they declined and we pick possible landing spots for Nikita Kucherov.Hosts: Sean Gentille & Sean McIndoeWith: Frankie Corrado & Patrice BergeronExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This NHL season has already been full of unexpected twists and turns and Friday brought yet another wild one as reigning league MVP Nikita Kucherov requested a trade out of Tampa Bay after informing the Lightning he will not re-sign with the club. Today, the guys break down Kucherov’s shocking trade request and discuss some potential destinations for him, if he actually gets traded at all. Plus, a spotlight on the incredibly tight Atlantic Division standings, the surging Montreal Canadiens, now winners of five straight without captain Nick Suzuki, and our obligatory “McData” check-in on Connor McDavid’s current points pace to close things out.Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goaltending dominated in the NHL on Tuesday night. Connor Hellebuyck had a successful debut for the New Jersey Devils in Dallas, Jacob Fowler took the Calder Trophy lead to the next level in a statement win for Montreal in St. Louis, and Pyotr Kochetkov won the goalie battle over Jeremy Swayman in Carolina. Sean and Sean discuss all this, and stick tap Matthew Schaefer for playing all 5 minutes of overtime in the Islanders shootout win over Nashville and Janson Duench joins from Edmonton to discuss the out of this world play of Connor McDavid who continues his march forward to the exclusive 200 point club.Hosts: Sean Gentille & Sean McIndoeWith: Janson DuenchExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Athletic Hockey Show crew gives their instant reaction to the Winnipeg Jets trading three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, Nico Daws, a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick and discuss what this means for the future in Wininpeg, the balance of power in the Eastern Conference, a potential Jack Hughes-Quinn Hughes-Connor Hellebuyck Team USA reunion in Newark, and more.This episode was recorded live at 12:40pm ET on Friday, October 23, 2026.Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Scott Wheeler and Shayna GoldmanExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a night for Brady Tkachuk to forget, as his Florida Panthers lost 5-1 in Ottawa. Senators fans let their former Captain know how they really feel after he forced a trade to Florida. Max, Sean and Shayna look back on the playoff-like atmosphere in Ottawa, and discuss Tkachuk's return to Canada with Julian McKenzie, and how it compared to brother Matthew's return in Calgary a few years earlier. Plus the crew discuss possible trade destinations for Simon Edvinsson, Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck.Hosts: Max Bultman & Sean GentilleWith: Shana Goldman and Julian McKenzieExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connor McDavid’s torrid start to the NHL season continued over the weekend with a five-point night against the Mammoth on Saturday night, bringing his point total to 23 in eight games. The guys discuss McDavid’s chances of reaching the 200-point plateau, if he has any Hart Trophy competition so far, and if he’s truly the most skilled player to ever play the game. Plus, the Panthers becoming the first team in NHL history to record at least one natural hat trick in 3 straight games, Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa for the first time on Wednesday night, the latest on Connor Hellebuyck’s situation with the Jets, and excellent starts to the season for Jake Oettinger and Linus Ullmark.Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Jesse GrangerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHL Frozen Frenzy returned to arenas across North America on Tuesday night and the boys share their opinions on if it works or not. They take you through all 16 games including the red hot Rangers, the return of Connor Bedard, a statement win for the WInnipeg Jets, Rick Bowness disappointed with the Blue Jackets again, the Flyers rough start and Alex DeBrincat committing long-term to the struggling Detroit Red Wings.Host: Sean Gentille & Sean McIndoeWith: Frank CorradoExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Bultman, Sean Gentille, and Shayna Goldman break down Alex Ovechkin’s Capitals winning his final home opener against Sidney Crosby’s Penguins and discuss how Caps head coach Spencer Carbery can maximize Ovi’s production throughout the season. Plus, thoughts on Oilers-Ducks, Stu Skinner’s nice start for the Jets, McKenna vs. Marner tonight when the Maple Leafs visit the Golden Knights, and more. And, to close things out, Harman Dayal joins the show to talk about the seven NHL players who could make or break their team’s season.This episode was recorded live at 3:00pm ET on October 8, 2026.Hosts: Max Bultman & Sean GentilleWith: Shayna GoldmanExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Detroit Red Wings, once the NHL’s model franchise, now find themselves in a precarious position with captain Dylan Larkin sidelined due to injury, and awaiting a requested trade out of Hockeytown, and with defenseman Simon Edvinsson back in Sweden awaiting a new contract. The guys discuss the latest out of Detroit and break down how their troubles could have been avoided in the offseason. Plus, reaction to Alex Ovechkin’s final season announcement, an uneven start for the Oilers, how Sasha Barkov’s potentially longterm injury will impact the Panthers and the Eastern Conference, and commissioner Gary Bettman saying the league could tweak no-trade clauses if issues continue to arise.Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Jesse GrangerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHL season might be new, but the Edmonton Oilers goaltending stays the same, and so has Mike Babcock's intensity. Jakub Dobeš continues his dominance over the Maple Leafs, Jeremy Swayman shuts out the Rangers, the Golden Knights roll over the Blackhawks, and the Panthers spoil the Hurricanes Stanley Cup banner raising. Sean, Frank and Sean recap the first five games of the regular season, they discuss 10 teams that need a strong start to the season, and Jonas Siegel presents his Maple Leaf 'IF' list, ranking the variables facing the overhauled team.Host: Sean Gentille & Sean McIndoeWith: Frank CorradoExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the 2026-27 NHL season set to begin tomorrow night, the guys deep dive into Jesse’s annual ranking of the top 45 goalies in the league, including the four who’ve separated themselves from the rest to land in the top tier. Plus, the guys have a great, in-depth conversation about Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill’s critique of defensive analytics in hockey, where hockey analytics are heading, and what it truly takes to build a premier front office.And, don’t forget to join us on YouTube tomorrow at 3:00pm ET for our LIVE NHL opening night preview: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowHosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Jesse GrangerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlannerySubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.