Are the New York Islanders the least interesting team in the NHL?

First, Ian and Hailey talk about Jack Eichel’s “unamused face” emoji tweet from late last week, which set off yet another whirlwind of speculation about a potential trade out of Buffalo.Then, Team Canada’s Natalie Spooner calls in to discuss the first week of IIHF Women's World Championships in Calgary, how the last two years have felt like “the longest offseason of training ever”, Thursday’s rivalry game against Team USA, the importance of the PWHPA, and much more.Next, The Athletic’s own Katie Strang joins the show to give an update on the future of the Arizona Coyotes after the City of Glendale informed the franchise it will opt out of its joint lease agreement for Gila River Arena following the 2021-22 season, how unique this situation is in professional sports, the financial health of the Coyotes organization, what would have to happen for hockey to truly thrive in the desert, and much more.Plus, to close things out, Ian and Hailey play a round of Multiple Choice Madness about where the Coyotes will be playing five years, if the Flames should be allowed to call Nikita Zadorov “Big Z”, the best goalie to never win a Stanley Cup, and which team improved their Stanley Cup odds the most this offseason.And, don’t forget, you can sign up for an annual subscription to The Athletic for just $3.99 a month when you visit http://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Aug 20211h 3min

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe spend the next hour discussing the Hockey Hall of Fame. First, should the selection process be more transparent? Do statistical milestones or rings matter? What about goalies?Then, should past players like Keith Tkachuk or Alex Mogilny be in the HOF? What about current players like Anze Kopitar or Steven Stamkos, will they eventually get there? Do you agree with the guys? Email your thoughts to theathletichockeyshow@gmail.com, or leave a VM at (845) 445-8459!Save on an annual subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Aug 20211h 1min

First, Ian and Hailey discuss the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship set to begin in Calgary this week, featuring the return of Marie-Philip Poulin after an almost two-year layoff from competitive hockey, the NHL’s 2022 Olympic involvement still in doubt, the NHL and NHLPA strongly advising players to get vaccinated or potentially face fines for missing games, Jumbo Joe Thornton signing with the Florida Panthers, and more.Then, Seattle Kraken defenseman Mark Giordano joins the show to talk about the hectic days leading up to his selection in the expansion draft, mixed emotions about leaving Calgary as the captain of the Flames, expectations for the inaugural season in Seattle considering the success the Vegas Golden Knights had in their first year, and much more.Plus, to close things out in Multiple Choice Madness, Ian and Hailey answer which country could spoil a Canada vs. USA gold medal game showdown at Women’s Worlds, who would be the first overall pick in a redraft of the 2018 NHL Draft, if Vancouver Canucks fans should be freaking out about Elias Pettersson’s comments in a Swedish newspaper last week or not, and what food or drink they’d like to have out of the Stanley Cup.And, don’t forget, you can sign up for an annual subscription to The Athletic for just $3.99 a month when you visit http://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16 Aug 20211h 5min

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe spend this episode concocting a list of the ten most likeable players in NHL history. Who are the shoo-ins? Who doesn't make the cut? Do you agree with the list they ended up with?Email your thoughts to theathletichockeyshow@gmail.com, or leave a VM at (845) 445-8459!Save on a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 Aug 202158min

Tom Fitzgerald, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils joins Ian and Hailey to discuss the Devils off-season moves, led by the monster deal for free agent Dougie Hamilton, signing top 6 forward Tomas Tatar and drafting Luke Hughes.Ian and Hailey discuss Hockey Canada's announcement, naming Jon Cooper the head coach for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics and his all-star staff led by Barry Trotz, Peter Deboer and Bruce Cassidy.Mendes and Salvian take a look at the new contract signed by Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, who looks to have a bounce back season, after taking a step back in his sophomore season for the Orange and Black in 2021.As always, we wrap the podcast with multiple choice madness and we dip into the Hail-bag with questions on possible RFA targets and what player needs to embrace his full Nikita Kucherov, and not take himself so seriously during media availability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Aug 20211h

First, on the season finale of the Prospect Series, Corey joins the show from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Slovakia and talks to Max about the large scouting presence at the showcase and how the tournament sets the prospect watchlist for the early part of next season, as well as thoughts on some of Team USA’s top players, Team Slovakia becoming the story of the tournament so far, featuring guys like Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Ondrej Molnar.Plus, the guys discuss Team Russia and their impressive 2023 draft eligible winger Matvei Michkov, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Mikhail Gulyayev, Team Finland’s Joakim Kemell, and Team Sweden’s lackluster performance so far.And, don’t forget, you can sign up for an annual subscription to The Athletic for just $3.99 a month when you visit http://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Aug 202128min

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe kick things off discussing Nathan MacKinnon's fitness and eating habits as revealed by Nikita Zadorov in an interview. What, no pasta for anyone?! Also, John Tortorella will be joining ESPN, but which version of Torts will we really see on TV? Also, Sean discusses trying to find a winner in his preseason prediction contest.Then in "Granger Things", Jesse Granger joins the show to discuss gambling allegations, and why they are so taboo in sports. Then, the guys answer of bunch of listener questions, including who has the worst contract in the NHL, a look back at the trade that sent Dominik Hasek from Chicago to Buffalo in "This Week in Hockey History", and more.Have a question for Ian and Sean? Email theathletichockeyshow@gmail.com, or leave a VM at (845) 445-8459!Save on a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Aug 20211h

First, Ian and guest cohost Sean Gentille, filling in for Hailey, discuss the increasingly contentious Jack Eichel-Buffalo Sabres standoff after Eichel’s agents released a statement late last week detailing how “the process is not working” for a variety of reasons, including a disagreement over how to treat a herniated disc in the star player’s neck, the allegations levied against Evander Kane on social media by his wife that he bet on his own games and intentionally threw them, Marc-Andre Fleury’s decision to report to Chicago and play for the Blackhawks next season after being blindsided by a trade from the Golden Knights last week, and more.Then, The Athletic’s own Dom Lusczyszyn joins the show to grade some of the biggest moves this offseason including Zach Werenski’s gigantic contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets, featuring a higher average annual value than Cale Makar’s deal with the Colorado Avalanche, the Seattle Kraken’s signings of Alex Wennberg and Jaden Schwartz, Barclay Goodrow’s six-year deal with the New York Rangers, the goaltending decisions of the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes, and more.Plus, Ian and Sean close things out with Multiple Choice Madness questions, including if the NHL should push to join the Summer Olympics, the most intriguing remaining free agent, Western Conference playoff bubble teams, and the best rivalry-inducing playoff matchups for next season.And, don’t forget, you can sign up for an annual subscription to The Athletic for just $3.99 a month when you visit http://theathletic.com/hockeyshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Aug 202156min