The Athletic Hockey Show

On this edition of the Wednesday roundtable, Katie Strang, the Athletic's senior investigative reporter joins Rob Pizzo from CBC Sports, along with Sara Civian and Jesse Granger from the Athletic. The round table discuss the outcome of the investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault incidents from 2010. We discuss the NHL's response to the findings, how the 2010 Stanley Cup champions...

David Backes, the former Captain of the St. Louis Blues joins Craig and Sean on the Americans edition of the Athletic Hockey Show to chat about his career with the Blues, Bruins and Ducks, the infamous offer-sheet by Vancouver, the 2010 Winter Olympic games and how much losing hurts. David talks about what he is doing now, including taking up surfing in southern California, he an his wife Kelly's...

First, Ian and Hailey discuss the Seattle Kraken’s first home game, whether the franchise retiring jersey No. 32 for their fans was a cool move or not, and if the Minnesota Wild retiring No. 1 for their fanbase in their inaugural season was worse, the Vegas Golden Knights struggling with injuries, the Toronto Maple Leafs not looking right, the Chicago Blackhawks setting an NHL record for the longe...

With the Buffalo Sabres off to a strong start, Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe discuss if they could be the NHL's most lovable team right now, and if it's too early to feel the heat in Montreal and Chicago as both teams struggle out of the gate. Also, previewing Jasperi Kotkaniemi's return to Montreal as a member of the Hurricanes, how will that crown receive him? Then, a listener calls in to note the...

Rob Pizzo from CBC Sports along with Sara Civian and Jesse Granger from the Athletic bring you the Wednesday edition of the Athletic Hockey Show. On this edition, the crew discusses NHL players marketing themselves more than ever with a relaxed dress code in the NHL, viral goal celebrations creating crazy plays and the freedom to show personality on and off the ice. Pizzo, Jesse and Civy take look...

Craig and Sean welcome Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. the boys discuss Jack's OT goal celebration, the outlook for the up and coming Devils, Jack's Olympic chances and Jack's interests outside hockey, including cooking for brother Quinn. Custance and Gentille also take a look at the ongoing mess in San Jose with Evander Kane being suspended for 21 games for falsifying a COVID-19 passport. W...

First, Ian and Hailey talk about the the origins of Hailey’s dog’s name, and Ian shares a Gilbert Brulé story involving U2 frontman Bono, and then they discuss the biggest first week surprises of the NHL season, Auston Matthews making his season debut against the New York Rangers tonight, and whether he’ll hit the 50-goal plateau or not, Brady Tkachuk’s 7-year, $57.5 million deal with the Ottawa S...

NHL Hockey that counts is back, and Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe discuss a Capitals-Rangers matchup that did not quite live up to expectations, while Ovechkin scored two goals. Also, Seattle fans are officially brought to the league with a call that doesn't go their way, and Vegas players take offense to Morgan Geekie's celly. Next, they discuss Sean's piece on weirdly specific team predictions, an...

The Wednesday Athletic Hockey Show debuts with Rob Pizzo from CBC Sports and Sara Civian and Jesse Granger from the Athletic. Pizzo, Civy and Jesse look back on the debut game between the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights in a playoff like atmosphere in Vegas, a questionable winning goal from Chandler Stephenson and a controversial goal celebration from Morgan Geekie. They discuss Nick Suzuk...

First, Ian and Hailey talk about opening night of the 2021-22 NHL season, how great it is for the game of hockey to be back on ESPN, and debuting on TNT, this year, how Wayne Gretzky will fare as a TV analyst, ideal opening night matchups, and more. Then, The Athletic’s own Dom Lusczyszyn joins the show to discuss his projected season standings and player tiers, which fan based is the most annoyed...

Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner of the National Hockey League joins Craig Custance and Sean Gentille to address some of the major storylines in the NHL, as the league gets set to begin a new season beginning Tuesday night. Bill discusses the ongoing issues between the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel, the legal issues for Evander Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks franchise, and the debut of the NHL...

First, Max and Corey talk about the Michigan Wolverines, featuring a lineup with four of the top five picks in the 2021 NHL Draft, torching the Bowling Green Falcons 7-1 in an exhibition game last weekend, expectations this season for Owen Power, Matty Beniers, Luke Hughes, and Kent Johnson, and how the year could play out in Michigan. Then, the guys dive into the Calder Trophy debate and discuss...

With the opening of the NHL season less than a week away, Ian and Sean discuss resolutions for the "new year", including cutting Kraken fans some slack as they navigate their first season. Then, they are joined by Sabres beat writer John Vogl to discuss Jack Eichel, fan optimism levels for this year, and put on their marketing team hats to come up with some team slogans. Arthur Staple then joins t...

On this edition of the Athletic Hockey Show, the American's, Craig and Sean welcome Mark Lazerus and Peter Baugh as storyline week continues on the Athletic Hockey Show. Laz discusses the return of Jonathan Toews, the big time off-season moves involving Marc-Andre Fleury, Seth Jones and Jake McCabe as the Blackhawks try to navigate their way through the sexual assault scandal and qualify for a pla...

First, Ian and Hailey discuss Robin Lehner’s weekend tweetstorm essentially accusing NHL teams of medical malpractice, as a reaction to Jack Eichel’s ongoing struggle with the Buffalo Sabres about surgical options for his neck injury, Edmonton Oilers forward Josh Archibald being out indefinitely after a myocarditis diagnosis related to a battle with COVID-19 in the offseason, and more. Then, The A...

First, Max and Corey talk about Corey’s trip to the USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and discuss Adam Fantilli really standing out amongst the field of prospects, how the NTDP players fared, and more. Then, the guys discuss how some high-level prospects have played throughout the young preseason so far, including Yegor Chinakov and Cole Sillinger of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Alex...

"All or Nothing: The Toronto Maple Leafs" drops Friday on Amazon, will Sean be tuning in? He and Ian then dive into his pieces on the most intriguing players heading into the NHL season, and finding hope for fans of the ten worst teams in league. Also, the Arizona Coyotes have become the first team to ease up on their game day dress code, will other teams soon follow suit? In the mailbag, a listen...

Craig and Sean welcome John Buccigross from ESPN to discuss the new NHL season and ESPN's coverage, as the network gets set to be a rights holder for the NHL again. The guys discuss the NHL players media tour, the healthy rivalry between ESPN and TNT and their hockey coverage, what Mark Messier and Chris Chelios will be like as studio analysts and if Alex Ovechkin can break Wayne Gretzky's all tim...

First, Ian and Hailey talk about Dom Lusczyszyn’s preseason rankings and discuss where the Seattle Kraken could end up in the Pacific division, the disgusting incident involving Ukranian league player Andri Denyskin making a racial gesture towards Jalen Smereck, Tyler Bertuzzi’s interesting first press conference since deciding to forgo a COVID-19 vaccination, and more. Then, Florida Panthers head...

First, Max and Corey are joined by the potential No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Shane Wright of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs to discuss how he feels getting back into real competition after the entire OHL season was cancelled last year due to COVID-19 concerns, which NHL player he compares his game to, dealing with the disappointment of getting cut from Team Canada’s 2021 WJC roster, growing u...

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe discuss the news out of Buffalo with Jack Eichel no longer being captain of the Sabres, and what it means for both the player and the team moving forward as that soap opera continues. Then, they break down Sean's rankings of teams with the weirdest NHL off-seasons. Also, as Jim Hughson announced his retirement, who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of hockey broadcasting? T...

Craig and Sean welcome Travis Zajac who retired from the NHL yesterday. Travis looks back fondly at his 15 years in the NHL, how New Jersey and Lou Lamoriello helped shape him, and how much he is looking forward to working with the organization in retirement. Plus, Craig and Sean take a look at the remaining unsigned restricted free agents including Kirill Kaprizov, Brady Tkachuk, Robert Thomas an...

First, Ian and Hailey are joined by The Athletic’s own Eric Duhatschek to discuss a variety of topics heading into the opening of NHL training camps this week including Matthew Tkachuk speaking out about his brother Brady’s contract situation with the Ottawa Senators, Jack Eichel reportedly heading to Buffalo to take his Sabres pre-camp physical, Zdeno Chara signing with the New York Islanders twe...

First, Max and Corey sit down together in Traverse City, Michigan at the 2021 Prospect Tournament and give their thoughts on how the first couple of games have gone so far, which prospects stood out, including Stanislav Svozil, Yegor Chinakhov, Nick Robertson, Kirill Tyutyayev, and Ty Dellandrea, how significant prospect tournaments are for NHL teams, and much more. Plus, the guys answer listener...

Ian Mendes gets the full Granger treatment as Jesse Granger spends the episode as a guest co-host. They discuss Connor McDavid's comments calling about the officiating in the league, and if it's possible for him to keep up his scoring pace of last year's shortened season. Also, the Manning brothers made their Monday Night Football debut, and the duo wonder who in the hockey world could be a great...