Spittin' Chiclets Episode 634: Featuring John Buccigross

Release Date: April 2, 2026 | Host: Barstool Sports, Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Rear Admiral (RA), Keith Yandle (Yans), Mike Grinnell (Producer G)

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, the Spittin' Chiclets crew is joined by legendary ESPN hockey broadcaster John Buccigross (Boochie) for a deep dive into the NHL playoff races, front office shakeups, standout stories, and inside scoops from the hockey world. Alongside plenty of hilarious banter, the team covers everything from Toronto's front office drama and goalie controversies to franchise rebuilds and the latest in NCAA hockey.

This recap sharpens in on the unfiltered - sometimes irreverent - tone Chiclets fans love, offering timestamped highlights, memorable rants, and Boochie’s expert analysis, plus a loaded RA’s World to finish strong.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Show Open & Golf Trip Vibes

[01:28-02:38]

• Hosts check in from various locations: Whitney and Yandle in Florida for golf, Biz in Atlanta.
• Quote – “I think the NHL is scripted. It's complete just entertainment value through the roof right now. We got on ice stories, we got off ice stories.” (Ryan Whitney, 02:12)

Tone: Classic Chiclets – irreverent, playful, inside jokes about “pinkies up” and “thesaurus” jokes over big words.

2. The NHL Wild Card Races Are Absolutely Nuts

[03:04-04:05]

• Biz raves about both East and West being “unbelievable” and laments Toronto’s predicament.
• Bruins clinch playoff spot, compared to 2011’s tough, annoying playoff teams.
• Quote – “The Bruins have punched their ticket to the playoffs. And I called them the Bag Bruins...they're going to be a real problem.” (Biz, 03:52)

3. Firing in Toronto: Tree Living Out, But Why Now?

[04:35-11:52]

• The Leafs fire GM Brad Treliving just before a key game—a timing that perplexes the crew.
• Whitney goes on an extended rant about roster mishandling, management indecision, and Toronto’s deep structural issues.
• Nylander’s lack of response/blame-placing comes under fire.
• Nostalgic for “Phil Kessel type” attitude – focus on goals, not on Instagram content.

Notable Quotes:

• “If my grandma had wheels, she'd be a bike.” (Yandle parodying hockey cliches, 04:41)
• “This rebuild basically depends on what Auston Matthews is going to say this offseason.” (Biz, 14:00)

4. Front Office Rumors and The Case for Chris Pronger or Ryan Getzlaf?

[20:13-23:27]

• Leafs' vacuum at the management level sparks crew speculation about possible candidates.
• Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf floated as bold, thick-skinned choices—though lack of resume noted.
• Quote – “That’s a wanted job, buddy. That's big dough. That's Original Six...but people want that job.” (Whitney, 20:02)

5. Bruins, Montreal, and the Art of “Not Seeing it Coming”

[18:44-19:13]

• Satire-laced take on Maple Leafs’ CEO Keith Pelley not realizing Canadiens were building a juggernaut.
• “Were you fucking living in Afghanistan in a bunker? Were you fucking in bin Laden's old pad?” (Biz, on Pelley not seeing Montreal's rise, 18:44)

6. Linus Ullmark's Mental Health & Locker Room Friction in Ottawa

[27:58-34:52]

• Crew wades into sensitive territory: criticizing Ottawa’s starting goalie for not playing ("mental health reasons"), especially during a key playoff crunch.
• Discussion balances some empathy with a raw, old-school expectations perspective.
• Quote – “At some point here, you're making big dough. You're the guy that the team needs right now...You got to be willing to play hockey right now.” (Whitney, 29:44)

7. John Buccigross Joins: Deep-Dish on Playoff Races & College Hockey

Begins 35:14

Playoff Races Heat Up – “Mushy Middle” Mayhem

[35:41-43:22]

• Boochie is less interested in bubble teams, more in whether “Buffalo for real?” "Could this finally be the year for Rod Brind'Amour in Carolina?"
• Picks Colorado as his "no-brainer" Cup favorite: "Hard to imagine them not winning the Cup. Would be gigantic disappointment if they don't." (Boochie, 36:51)

On Buffalo & Trade Debates (Eichel, roster evolution)

[38:01-39:20]

• Boochie applauds Buffalo’s grit, size, and “culture guys” like Peyton Krebs and Josh Doan, even if goaltending is shaky.

On Columbus’ Young Core & Fantilli

[40:09-42:13]

• Fantilli’s star trajectory debated: “goal scorer, yes, but maybe not a true superstar.”

Coach of the Year Debate

[54:38-57:05]

• Dan Muse hailed as clear favorite in Pittsburgh.
• Other mentions: Marco Sturm (Boston), Cooper (Tampa), Lindy Ruff (NJ), Rick Bowness, Quinville.
• Quote – “Every team that makes the playoffs, there’s probably an argument for the coach to win Coach of the Year.” (Boochie, 53:08)

Western Conference Breakdown

[95:20-96:33]

• Avalanche still clear Cup favorite for Boochie, Dallas second-tier: “It’s a no-doubter for me...I have no doubt Colorado is going to get this done.” (95:20)

8. Chiclets Lightning Round: Around the League

Pittsburgh Penguins' Offense:

• "They're fifth in league for goals for. Who would have seen that?" (Whit, 51:54)
• Praise for versatile depth additions (Mantha, Chynakhov, Kindle).

Detroit’s March Meltdowns & Stevie Y’s Leash

• Whitney and Boochie dissect why Detroit always fades in March, if Yzerman's hesitation at the deadline will cost him.

Philly’s Mechkov Dilemma

[61:07-66:29]

• Boochie says Mechkov is still a potential Caprizov-like star but might be missing right “cultural management” to bring him along.

9. NCAA Hockey: On Neutral Sites, TV, & The Future

[79:28-86:06]

• Boochie and hosts critique NCAA’s insistence on off-campus playoff sites.
• Argue more atmosphere, better TV, and competitive fairness if hosted by top seeds.
• Discuss possibilities of “premier league” reformatting, promotion/relegation in college hockey.

10. RA’s World: Scullet, Divorce Chronicles, History, and Wicked Storytelling

[100:34-136:27]

• Skullet chat: RA debates getting a hair transplant and jokes about hockey superstitions.
• Reflective on Bruins overachieving: "This will be one of my favorite Bruins teams of all time...They play their balls off for Sturm...proud of all year." (RA, 107:33)
• Storytime: Charlestown hustles, teenage mischief, Kit Kat bar thefts, and lore.
• History highlights: Lafleur’s 50-in-six-seasons, Gretzky’s 50-goal rookie year, Celebrini’s 100-point teenager season.
• New segment teased: “Divorce Chronicles” (129:06), RA’s hilarious musings on the legal system after his split.

Most Memorable Quotes

• Ryan Whitney (re Toronto):
  “The noise of Tree’s firing – after the Anaheim game that they ended up winning, MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley did a press conference... I would say it didn’t go over great. I think the fans were a little disgusted at the end of it…” (17:31)

• Biz, On Linus Ullmark Sitting Out:
  “8. 8. That's what 8.5 gets it. Give me a fucking break.” (33:52)

• John Buccigross, Cut-to-the-core take:
  “I'm all on Colorado. It’s a no-doubter for me. It's like Chicago when Chicago was going...I look at GF and GA – that's a real good stat. They score a lot, they don't give up a lot.” (95:20)

• RA, On Bruins’ Surprising Year:
  “This will be one of my favorite Bruins teams of all time...The effort, the heart, the grit, the gristle. Like, that is more than compensated for maybe the lack of skill.” (107:33)

• Biz, On Playoff Format Debates:
  “I like the 18 [1-8 seed] better...easier to figure out, but some things I just choose not to have an opinion on.” (70:40)

Must-Listen (Or Revisit) Timestamps

• Toronto GM Firing Rant: 04:35–11:52
• NHL Goalie Mental Health Debate: 27:58–34:52
• Boochie on College Hockey’s Future: 79:28–86:06
• RA’s World: Skullet, Storytime, Divorce Teaser: 100:34–136:27
• Coach of the Year Deep Dive: 54:38–57:05
• Colorado a “No Doubter” Favorite: 95:20–96:33

Episode Tone and Flow

• Fast-moving, energetic, and rich in inside jokes and storytelling—true to the Chiclets’ mix of deep hockey insight, crass jokes, and real talk.
• Buccigross brings an expert, reasoned voice to mix with the crew’s bombast and longstanding NHL experience.
• Philosophical asides (importance of “atmosphere” in hockey, how teams should be rebuilt) and raw honesty (on mental health, GM pressure) provide depth.
• Episode flows naturally, moving from current events (playoff races, firings) to broader debates and ending on “locker room” stories and listener questions.

For New Listeners:

• No need to be caught up on every storyline; the episode is self-contained with each topic introduced in context.
• Expect both analytical insight (stats, player development) and high-octane rants/riffs.
• RA's segment is a standout for local color, Bruins pride, and the show's signature blend of nostalgia and absurdity.

For full episodes, head to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Barstool's site. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music.