Empty Netters Podcast Summary

Episode: Did The Panarin Trade Save The Kings Season w/ Bayne Pettinger
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Dan Powers, Evan Watkins (Almost Friday Media)
Guest: Bain Pettinger (NHL Agent, founder of Apollo Athletes, LGBTQ+ advocate)
Special Segments: Breaking news on the Artemi Panarin trade, deep dive interview with Bain Pettinger, Team Canada/USA Olympic roster talks, and more.

Main Theme

This episode focuses on breaking down the blockbuster Artemi Panarin-to-the-Kings trade and its ripple effects on the NHL. The hosts also deliver their usual blend of banter, beer-league humility, and sharp hockey analysis, followed by an in-depth interview with agent and advocate Bain Pettinger. The show then pivots to Olympic rosters, storied player legacies, and meaningful discussions on inclusion and representation in hockey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: Artemi Panarin Traded to the LA Kings

(Timestamp: 02:41 – 15:26)

• Trade Details:
  • Panarin moves from NY Rangers to LA Kings; Rangers retain 50% salary.
  • Panarin signs a 2-year, $11M AAV extension.
  • Rangers receive prospect Liam Greentree (24th overall, 2024), a conditional 2026 3rd round pick (upgrades to 2nd if LA advances), and a 2028 conditional 4th.
• Immediate Reactions:
  • Hosts are surprised by the modest return given the rumors (e.g., Will Smith from San Jose, Ryan Leonard from the Capitals).
  • “Rangers fans are expecting them to get this... but you were only ever going to get this.” — Evan Watkins [04:33]
  • Context: Panarin had full control—would only waive for LA.
• Trade Impact for Each Team:
  • Kings:
    • Fill Kopitar’s role, power play boost for one of the weakest PP units.
    • Enter full “win-now” mode: “They just got better. A lot better.” — Dan Powers [06:19]
  • Rangers:
    • Greentree is a high-IQ prospect, compared to DeBrincat in junior numbers.
    • The return was the best available, given Panarin’s leverage.
  • NHL Landscape:
    • Competitive West, Kings needed to keep pace with Vegas, Edmonton, etc.
    • Trade blocks rivals from upgrading: “None of their competitors acquired Panarin… might as well be you.” — Evan Watkins [12:03]
• Notable Moment:
  • Hosts react in real-time to rumors, acknowledge the frustration from Rangers fans, but insist on the logic behind the assets.

2. Team Chemistry, Coaching Systems, and the LA Kings’ Playoff Push

(Timestamp: 15:26 – 15:47; 14:58 – 15:26 references)

• System Fit Concerns:
  • Debate if Panarin will thrive under coach Jim Hiller’s defense-first style.
  • Hosts hope the system “will adjust” to maximize 'Breadman's' elite playmaking.
  • “If I’m Artemi Panarin… I’m not looking at Jim Hiller.” — Dan Powers [14:58]
• Kings in Context:
  • Sitting just outside the playoff picture, but poised to surge.
  • Expected immediate on-ice chemistry with new teammates.

3. Connor McDavid’s Players’ Tribune Article: “Robot or Hockey God?”

(Timestamp: 15:32 – 25:44)

• Article Highlights:
  • McDavid expresses deep national pride and devotion to winning—both for Edmonton and Team Canada.
  • “This man cut his bachelor party short because he was so pissed. If that’s not the most hockey guy thing ever…” — Dan Powers [18:42]
  • Signals he will never leave Edmonton: “He will die in Edmonton. For good or for bad.” — Evan Watkins [21:54]
• Emotional Impact:
  • The article rallies Canadian pride, even swaying devoted USA fans in the moment.
  • “If you weren’t already a McDavid fan…you are now.” — Dan Powers [25:58]
• Olympic Implications:
  • McDavid, Crosby, and the current generation are now laser-focused on international competition after years of missing out due to NHL/Olympic conflicts.

4. Team Canada and USA Olympic Roster Analysis & Debates

(Timestamp: 25:58 – 38:19)

• Sam Bennett Replaces Anthony Cirelli (injury):
  • John Cooper (Canada’s coach) “desperate” to get Bennett on team.
  • “He might be one of the top five big game players in the NHL.” — Dan Powers [30:35]
  • Embarrassment of riches: “Canada suffers a brutal injury, and then the team gets better.” [29:32]
• Roster-Building Philosophies:
  • Critical discussion on USA’s outdated ‘Miracle on Ice’ grit-first bias.
  • “Now the skill can match up, and yet we’re still not building the roster.” — Dan Powers [32:55]
  • Ryder Cup-style hypothetical: Who would make teams strictly by points? (US leaves off several top scorers.)
• Chemistry and International Preparation:
  • Nostalgia for ‘Miracle’ year, where Team USA played a full season together.
  • “No wonder they won.” — Dan Powers [40:45]
• Olympic Arena Anecdotes:
  • Milan venue quirks, security, and fan excitement, reminiscent of grassroots travel hockey.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins: Analysis & Playoff Prognosis

(Timestamp: 41:50 – 50:22)

• Recent Hot Streak:
  • 11-2-2 in January, climbing Metro standings.
  • “This Pittsburgh team is good. They’re making playoffs. It’s locked. Book it.” — Dan Powers [48:54]
• Key Contributors:
  • Sid Crosby, Geno Malkin still leading.
  • Depth scoring from Justin Brazeau, Manta, Rust.
  • Goalie Stuart Skinner thriving since trade.
• Caution:
  • Cited past failures from disrupting chemistry with splashy moves.
  • Playoff matchups (Islanders, Carolina) discussed; Metro called “really bad” overall.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “You are the Sidney Crosby Penguins…in playoffs you are more.” — Evan Watkins [48:43]

6. Interview: Bain Pettinger (NHL Agent, Advocate)

(Timestamp: 52:10 – 116:35)

• Career Overview:
  • From Hockey Canada intern to Team Canada Manager, Olympic gold, now founder of Apollo Athletes.
  • Focus on multi-sport athletes, mental fitness, and long-term growth.
  • “Hockey is a contact sport on and off the ice.” — Bain Pettinger [53:57]
• Role as Agent:
  • Puts out fires, supports clients through adversity.
  • Boutique approach: small client list, tailored advice, holistic development.
  • 60-70% of agent’s role is “sports psych”: “Never too high, never too low.” [71:26]
• Coming Out Journey & LGBTQ+ Advocacy:
  • Candid stories about coming out to friends and NHLers, the anxiety and relief.
  • “You think the worst will happen…now that I've been out five years, I laugh.” [79:44]
  • Co-founded Alphabet Sports Collective to support queer people in hockey.
  • Emphasizes positivity, community, visibility over fixating on negativity and online trolls.
  • “The day I came out was the best day of my life.” — Bain Pettinger [90:44]
• Heated Rivalry (TV Show) Commentary:
  • Praises its realistic depiction of the closeted athlete experience.
  • “If I would have seen that when I was in the closet, I'd be like: ‘Okay, people are cool with this.’” [97:51]
  • Calls for hockey to keep building on momentum for inclusivity.

7. Olympic/International Hockey: The Big Picture

(Timestamp: 104:05 – 115:25)

• Olympic Culture:
  • Inside stories: Olympic village, spirit of national teams, cross-sport camaraderie.
  • Emphasizes how best-on-best events push hockey to its highest level.
  • “John Cooper said after Four Nations: coming back to the NHL felt like a lesser league.” — [113:51]
• Broadcast Reach:
  • Olympics generate unrivaled global exposure—vital for growing the game.
  • Hopes for Russian re-entry but acknowledges current geopolitical realities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is a win for the Kings...they just got better this year. Come on." — Dan Powers [10:47]
• “If Panarin said, ‘I’m only going to one team, you are fucked.’” — Evan Watkins [10:05]
• “That Players’ Tribune article was essentially the sports almanac from ‘Back to the Future.’" — Dan Powers [25:05]
• “You never get this in the NHL…he just gets to come hang out, meet the boys, meet the city, everything’s good, hit the ground running.” — Evan Watkins [13:24]
• “Never too high, never too low…that’s 60-70% of my job as an agent.” — Bain Pettinger [71:26]
• “The big, bad hockey world isn’t that bad. Some of the greats in the game…are more than allies.” — Bain Pettinger [89:44]
• “If you weren’t already a Connor McDavid fan…if you’re not now, I don’t care what you have to say!” — Dan Powers [25:58]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:41 — Breaking Panarin trade discussion begins
• 06:56 — Deep-dive on prospect Liam Greentree
• 09:00 — Salary retention, extension, and why Rangers didn’t get more
• 10:47 — “Win-now” analysis on Kings, LA’s playoff math
• 15:26 — McDavid’s Players Tribune & Canadian national pride
• 25:58 — Canada/USA Olympic roster impacts, Sam Bennett talk
• 32:13 — How Olympic roster construction philosophies differ (US vs Canada)
• 41:50 — Penguins segment: playoff positioning, team chemistry
• 52:10 — Bain Pettinger interview: hockey career, agenting, inclusion, advocacy
• 104:05 — Olympic inside stories & hockey culture
• 116:35 — Where to find Bain Pettinger’s initiatives

Tone

The show brims with irreverent hockey fan energy—honest, enthusiastic, informed, and self-deprecating. The hosts mix sharp, researched analysis with in-the-room style banter and beer-league humor. Bain Pettinger’s interview provides deeply personal, inspiring perspective, mixing serious moments with wisecracks and a practical “just be yourself” ethos.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode provides an on-the-fly reaction to one of the NHL’s biggest trades, a rundown of its implications for the season, and a peek into the unique pressures of player, fan, and management perspectives. The Bain Pettinger interview delves into the state of player development, agency life, mental health, and LGBTQ+ visibility in sports, all with candor and warmth. The episode wraps up with Olympic anticipation and the hosts’ signature betting banter.

Links & Resources

• Bain Pettinger / Apollo Athletes: @BainP, Apollo Athletes, Alphabet Sports Collective
• Empty Netters on YouTube, Spotify, Apple
• Almost Friday Media

Related Episodes

• Jack Eichel Interview: “Why Vegas is Built For Cups” (Ep. 62)
• Olympic Preview & Roster Deep Dive (Jan 2026)

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Until next time: Skate hard!