The Athletic Hockey Show

The Eastern Conference matchups are set! Hailey, Sean and Max preview all four East first round Stanley Cup playoff series, and are joined by Matt Fairburn from the Sabres beat, to preview the feel good Buffalo Sabres who went from worst to first in the Atlantic Division with the postseason beginning on Saturday. Plus, Hailey, Sean and Max make their first round picks.This episode was recorded live at 12:00pm ET on April 16, 2026.Host: Hailey Salvian, Sean Gentille and Max Bultman With: Matthew FairburnExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost 6 straight home games to end their season and Rick Bowness unloaded on the character and commitment of the team in his season ending press conference. Sean and Sean react to that, they discuss the yet to be determined Western Conference playoff matchups, and former NHL'er Cameron Gaunce from TSN stops by to share a coaching rant story of his own, they discusses Julien BriseBois and the Lighting being at the top of the NHL agent poll, the dysfunction inside Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Cam tells us what matchup he wants to see in the first round of the playoffs.Host: Sean Gentille and Sean McIndoeWith: Cameron GaunceExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

On a special edition of The Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series, Max and Scott break down Scott’s top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking, discussing Michael Misa and Porter Martone in a tier of their own at the very top, some of the biggest risers from last year’s ranking, as well as some of Scott’s favorites, the hardest guys to slot, and the goalies to close things out. Hosts: Max Bultman and Scott WheelerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

Alex Ovechkin very well may have played his final home game in a Washington Capitals uniform Sunday afternoon, but The Great 8 isn’t letting us know one way or another… at least not yet. And so, Max, Laz, and Sean Gentille discuss if we are in fact witnessing the end of Ovi’s storied NHL career. Plus, The Athletic’s own Kevin Kurz joins the show to talk about the surging Philadelphia Flyers and, to close things out, the guys predict which teams will grab the final playoff spots in the East and West during this final stretch of the season. Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Sean Gentille and Kevin KurzExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

On today’s episode, the guys deep dive into Scott’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankings, an annual list that includes evaluations of roughly 500 prospects and sorts the league’s farm systems from No. 32 to No. 1, and discuss why there were only two teams in the conversation at the top of the list, the rest of the top 10, and some of the biggest risers and fallers this season.Hosts: Max Bultman and Scott WheelerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

Connor McDavid was a one man wrecking crew against the Sharks on Wednesday night. Hailey Salvian and Shayna Goldman praise the unstoppable McDavid, dissect the injury to Connor Ingram and how it affects the Oilers wonky goaltending. They debate Alex Ovechkin's future in the NHL, they stick tap the PWHL's record setting night at Madison Square Garden and welcome Eric Stephens for an in-depth conversation on the San Jose Sharks, LA Kings and Anaheim DucksHost: Hailey Salvian and Shayna GoldmanWith: Eric StephensExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

The Detroit Red Wings freefall from first in the Atlantic to missing the postseason cut for a tenth straight season is almost complete. Max Bultman, Sean McIndoe and Frank Corrado discuss what went wrong in the Motor City, the Anaheim Ducks six-game losing streak, and what went wrong for Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils. Plus, former NHL'er Cameron Gaunce joins to discuss the red-hot Flyers, the unstoppable Sens, the perfect Golden Knights since Torts took over and the boys give their picks for the final playoff spot in the West.Host: Max Bultman and Sean McIndoeWith: Frank Corrado and Cameron GaunceExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Jeff DometWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow

For the second time in a week there has been a major change behind the bench of an NHL team, this time with the New York Islanders firing head coach Patrick Roy and replacing him with Pete DeBoer with just four games left on the schedule. Today, the guys break down the Isles’ surprising decision, assess John Tortorella’s first week of work with the Vegas Golden Knights, and check in on Macklin Celebrini’s Hart Trophy potential as the young phenom keeps his San Jose Sharks in playoff contention. Plus, the Buffalo Sabres are playoff-bound for the first time in 14 years, ending the league’s longest drought, while the Detroit Red Wings are in danger of extending their nine-year postseason absence after another end-of-season collapse.Hosts: Max Bultman and Mark LazerusWith: Jesse GrangerExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris FlanneryWatch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theathletichockeyshowJoin our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VTm9VjkFSubscribe to The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/hockeyshow