Spittin' Chiclets Episode 635: Featuring Rick Middleton

Release Date: April 7, 2026
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode of Spittin’ Chiclets from Barstool Sports features the legendary Rick “Nifty” Middleton, along with hosts Ryan Whitney, Paul “Biznasty” Bissonnette, Rear Admiral (RA), and Producer Mike Grinnell. While the episode’s central focus is on the NHL’s playoff race (with special attention to breakout rookie Macklin Celebrini, wild team runs, and major late-season coaching changes), it also features a deep-dive, hour-long interview with Rick Middleton about his Bruins career, old-time hockey, and his later work in sled hockey. The episode closes on a somber but heartfelt note as Whitney shares a personal loss that’s rocked the show’s extended family.

MAIN THEMES

• Intense Playoff Races & Wild Card Drama: The NHL’s late-season madness, with multiple teams—Sharks, Ducks, Oilers, Islanders, Flyers, Sabres, Senators, and Red Wings—in dogfights for the final playoffs spots.
• Macklin Celebrini's Unprecedented Rookie Impact: The 19-year-old's earth-shattering season in San Jose, discussion of his Hart Trophy credentials, and historical comparisons.
• Coaching Carnage: Recap of shocking late coaching changes for the Golden Knights and Islanders, and analysis of their impacts.
• Fan, Media, and Organizational Drama: From MVP, Norris, and other awards debates, to viral fan moments and notable parent rants that influence entire franchises.
• Classic Hockey Storytelling: Featuring Rick Middleton on Bruins legacy, Don Cherry tales, the “too many men” myth, life after hockey—and his surprising role in sled hockey gold.
• Emotional Closer: Whitney shares the heartbreaking loss of a close friend’s wife to cancer.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

1. Playoff Picture Mayhem & Rookie Phenoms

• [06:30–13:42 | Playoff Races & Celebrini’s Heroics]

  • The Sharks are repeatedly declared dead, then come storming back thanks to Macklin Celebrini, who is outscoring his teammates by an unfathomable 52 points and may break both Wayne Gretzky’s and Joe Thornton’s teenage scoring records.
  • Yance: “If Maclin Celebrini ties Wayne's three-point game record and breaks the San Jose points total, even if they don't make playoffs, he’s my MVP, hands down.” (10:25)
  • Celebrini’s defensive play & franchise-changing presence called out: “He doesn’t cheat the game… he is changing that organization right in front of your eyes.” — Biz (13:23)

• [13:42–15:54 | Rookie Contracts & Salary Cap Talk]

  • Celebrini’s looming monster contract is discussed.
  • “Right now, if I was San Jose, I would say eight years, the 20% max.” — Yance (14:02)
  • Side conversation: NBA/NHL cross-sports business comparisons (NBA excitement down, NHL up).

2. Award Debates & Viral Media

• [15:54–18:17 | MVP & Norris Trophies, Media Buzz]
  • John Buccigross’ controversial takes on Olympics factoring into NHL awards.
  • “I thought he was just throwing shade at Biz!” — Biz, tongue-in-cheek debate about online hot takes and stirring the pot.
  • Norris chatter: Bucci, Werenski, and Bacardi Boosh (Evan Bouchard) as favorites.
    • “If I had the first 10 games of the season that guy had … I’d be on SUI watch.” — Yance (17:27)

3. Coaching Chaos: Wa Out, DeBoer In

• [18:17–29:38 | Coaching Firings, Team Identity, and Copycat Moves]
  • Patrick Roy shock-fired as Islanders implode down the stretch, replaced by Pete DeBoer with 4 games left. Discussion of GMs, “coach bullets,” and the effect of Vegas’ own late coaching pivot.
  • “Not only do I think maybe with four home games left, we could figure this out and get in, but also I’m taking DeBoer off the market.” — Chris (24:20)
  • Islanders playoff hopes: DeBoer’s first-year magic, Sorokin’s heroics, and whether the move can spark a turnaround.

4. Eastern Conference Wars: Battle for Wild Cards

• [29:38–39:08 | Bruins, Sabres, Hurricanes, and Playoff Opponents]

  • Boston’s nightmare: Who do you want to play, Buffalo or Carolina?
  • Buffalo’s amazing resurgence after being left for dead. Whitney’s “0.000%” playoff take comes back to haunt—and delight—him.
    • “I am so pumped up for these fans, so fired up for that city.” — Chris (30:01)
  • Carolina’s relentless conference finalist status and goaltending/defense arguments.

• [39:08–43:44 | Detroit’s Collapse]

  • Red Wings’ devastating late-game penalty and blown comeback, their playoff drought, and the emotional weight of perpetual disappointment.
  • “Imagine being in a playoff race and getting booed off the ice by your home fans. That's fucked.” — Biz (39:08)

5. Ottawa’s Soap Opera & Fan Psychology

• [44:54–50:59 | Ottawa’s Drama, Kachuk, and Social Media Firestorms]
  • Big Walt Kachuk’s podcast rant sends Ottawa into a media/comms tailspin.
  • Debate on accountability, captaincy, fans’ love/hate for Brady Kachuk, and the power of outside voices on team culture, including classic stick-in-the-rib moments courtesy of players’ parents.

6. Flyers & Penguins Resurrected

• [54:11–65:54 | Rivalries and Surging Rookies]
  • Flyers rookie Porter Martone takes over the city after a string of heroics—deemed “best since Lindros” by local media (58:17).
  • “He should have eight goals right now, buddy.” — Yance (54:57)
  • Tipett’s rise as a prototypical Flyer; goaltending, D-core, and the resurgence of the Flyers-Pens rivalry.

7. Classic Hockey Tales: Interview with Rick Middleton

• [86:13–164:02 | Rick “Nifty” Middleton, Bruins Lore, Don Cherry, Sled Hockey Gold]
  • Middleton’s legendary Bruins career—hockey roots, New York debauchery, Cherry’s coaching, “too many men on the ice” heartbreak, and playing with/against Hall of Famers.
    • “Cheevers claims he gave me the nickname Nifty ... nobody else claimed they did.” (93:06)
  • Epic stories: Bruins brawling, Cherry’s media mind games, the Isles and Habs dynasties, and wild lineup calls.
  • Transition to sled hockey coach: the unlikeliest path to Paralympic Gold, ice-cold USA vs. the world, and the rise of American sled hockey.
    • “Long story short, we go in, first game’s against Japan … we end up winning 3-0 … our next game was Saturday night… in front of 6,000 fans. We spanked them 5-1. Canada didn’t win another game.” (~151:19–156:15)

8. Moment of Reverence: In Memoriam

• [187:04–198:05 | Tribute by Whitney]
  • Whitney shares the passing of a close friend’s wife, Laura, after a long battle with cancer. A raw, heartfelt conversation about life’s unfairness, the strength of family, and the importance of supporting loved ones in grief.
    • “This one’s the toughest... She was beautiful inside and out. Everyone, hug your loved ones and be thankful for today.” — Chris (198:05)

NOTABLE QUOTES & TIMESTAMPS

• Celebrini’s MVP Candidacy:
  “If he ties Wayne's three-point game record as a teenager and he beats the San Jose individual season point total, even if they don’t make playoffs, I would vote him number one as MVP in my ballot. I don’t vote by the way.” — Yance (10:25)

• The Power of Fan Suffering:
  “That kid, who looked to be about 6-2, 200 pounds, was at Disney World as a six-year-old the last time they were in the playoffs. This kid has been watching game after game year after year and now he gets to see playoff hockey.” — Chris (74:29)

• Rick Middleton’s Humility:
  “If I had the shot David [Pastrnak] has, I’d have over 500 goals.” — Rick Middleton (86:13)

• On Classic Bruins Hockey:
  “We had a tough team. It gave me a lot more room because they had a lot of these other guys to worry about more than me. So I was able to do my thing, you know.” — Rick Middleton (125:24)

• On Sled Hockey Gold:
  “You should see the hit with a little over a minute left … my captain Joe Howard from Brockton, MA, flying down the left wing … we won the gold in a shootout.” — Rick Middleton (~156:39–159:09)

• On Loss & Love:
  “We will be there for our guy … all you can do is be there for him when he’s sitting there and he doesn’t have his wife. ... Rest in peace, Laura.” — Chris (194:43–198:05)

TIMESTAMPED GUIDE TO MAJOR SEGMENTS

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |----------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:53–05:21 | Banter/Branding, Podcast intro | Pinkies up, Biz’s TNT appearance, start of hockey discussions | | 06:30–13:42 | Playoff races, Celebrini | Celebrini’s legendary rookie performance, MVP race, historical comps | | 13:42–15:54 | Contracts/Cap/Awards | Celebrini’s future contract, NBA/NHL viewership comparisons | | 15:54–18:17 | MVP, Norris, Media buzz | Bucci’s comments, online trolling, Norris picks (Werenski/Bouchard) | | 18:17–29:38 | Coach firings & hires | Vegas & Islanders fire/hire, DeBoer’s never-miss streak, Patrick Roy’s ouster, playoff impact | | 29:38–39:08 | Bruins/Sabres, wild card | Playoff opponent debate, Buffalo’s run, Carolina’s consistency | | 39:08–43:44 | Detroit struggles | Detroit’s heartbreak, Kane’s penalty, fan reactions | | 44:54–50:59 | Ottawa’s drama & media | Kachuk family podcast, Brady Kachuk captaincy debate, fan psychology | | 54:11–65:54 | Flyers/Penguins resurgence | Flyers rookies, Porter Martone, Tippett’s growth, playoff atmosphere nostalgia | | 86:13–164:02 | Rick Middleton interview (Bruins legend) | Career, nickname, Cherry, “too many men,” playoff heartbreak, sled hockey, Bruins culture | | 187:04–198:05 | Tribute—Passing of Laura | Emotional tribute by Whitney, loss, cancer, family grief |

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• Legendary Old-school Bar Stories: The Monday “Tittle Tattle” in NYC with football and hockey players, Don Cherry’s locker room wit, and how the 70s/80s were “before cell phones” (120:24).
• Classic Bruins/Canadian Playoff Tales: The “too many men” penalty, heartbreak in ‘79, fans welcoming losing teams back at the airport (119:00).
• Gold Medal Sled Hockey Shootout: Nifty called on memories of Don Cherry’s dump-and-chase tactics for the US Paralympic team, who won gold in an OT shootout (151:19–159:09).
• Emotional Tribute to a Friend’s Wife: The last 10 minutes, sharing the shock, sadness, and the supportive community that steps up during grief. “Anyone out there who’s lost somebody to cancer ... it’s fucking brutal, man.” (194:43–198:05)

TONE & STYLE

The tone is classic Chiclets—irreverent, quick-witted, affectionate, but also deeply sincere, especially in the personal segments. Banter is peppered with inside jokes, hockey lingo, and “boys being boys” storytelling, but the show pivots effortlessly to respect and realness for serious topics.

IN SUMMARY

• Hockey Reality TV: This episode is a nearly three-hour whirlwind featuring the entire hockey ecosystem—from drama-filled playoff races and social media showdowns to in-the-room tales from a true Bruins legend.
• Essential Listen: For Chiclets fans and hockey culture devotees, this is near-perfect episode—mixing future superstars, media madness, playoff pressure, unforgettable tales from one of the game’s most underrated stars, and a moving tribute to the importance of friends and family.
• Don’t Miss: The Rick Middleton interview (86:13–164:02). If nothing else, listen from 151:19–159:09 for his sled hockey gold story—a window into a whole new side of the game.
• Heartfelt Ending: The final tribute is a reminder hockey, at its best, is about more than the game.

For those who missed the episode, this summary captures both the humor, hockey smarts, and heart that make Spittin’ Chiclets a can’t-miss for puck fans everywhere.