Podcast Summary: The Athletic Hockey Show

Episode: Building Team USA and Canada Olympic Rosters

Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Haley Salvian & Sean Gentile
Guest: Shayna Goldman

Overview

This episode dives into two major themes:

• Early-season NHL "vibe check"—which teams and players are exceeding or lagging expectations.
• Deep discussion and debate around constructing Team Canada and Team USA men’s hockey rosters for the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, including spicy hot takes and tough roster decisions.

The conversation features insight, witty banter, and sharp analysis, geared for diehard hockey fans as the Olympic selection process intensifies.

NHL Early-Season Standings & Vibes

[03:07–19:28]

Early Standings Surprises

• Host Haley opens by noting strange early top-five teams (including Devils, Penguins, Utah Mammoth, Avalanche, Canadiens).
• Sean and Shayna poke fun at the over-analysis of "too early to judge," but agree it’s worth noticing looming surprises.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Pittsburgh Penguins: Once expected to fade, are catching eyes with a rejuvenated Malkin and strong showings by reclamation projects like Anthony Mantha.
  • "Who among us thought they would do literally anything this year? … It's more surprising that it's not just Sidney Crosby doing everything."
    —Shayna, [08:31]
• Comparison with past Capitals “aging legend” teams— banking points early keeps fans engaged.
• Note: Frustration with ongoing speculation about Crosby’s future.
  • "Sidney Crosby has said over and over again what he wants and people continue to not take him at his word." —Sean, [11:35]

Utah Mammoth—Breakout Analysis

[12:35–17:02]

• The move from Arizona, young-gun scoring, and finally healthy lineup has the Mammoth exploding.

• Shayna highlights Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther’s impact, and the evolution of Clayton Keller from overlooked talent to legitimate star.

• "We knew Logan Cooley had that star potential... Now you're seeing it in more meaningful games ... It's coming together the right way."
  —Shayna, [13:19]

The Evolution of Great Players

• Sean discusses underestimating players’ jump from “good” to “great”—using Keller as prime example.
• "It is fun to see players jump from being a 7 to an 8-and-a-half. That’s a big part of what we've seen from Keller."
  —Sean, [15:52]

Logan Cooley’s Contract

• Shayna frames the $10 million AAV as smart and in-line with NHL’s shifting salary landscape.
• Comparisons to Jack Hughes’ contract; notes elite center value.
  • "10 million in today's NHL [is] totally different from what it meant before."
    —Shayna, [17:12]

Where NHL Teams Get Their Best Players

[18:43–26:52]

Shayna’s Player Pipeline Study

• 91 of the top 150 players (“Player Tiers”) were drafted by their teams; most stars aren’t gained via free agency.
• Florida Panthers/Vegas Golden Knights called out as outlier teams relying heavily on trades.
• Teams increasingly “overpay” to retain top talent, and it’s justified due to the scarcity of elite players in free agency.
  • "You have to draft and develop tier one players. That’s how it’s 10 out of 10.”
    —Shayna, [20:13]

Notable Quote

• “Only 13 of the top 150 players were acquired by their current teams as free agents. That’s wild.”
  —Sean, [21:32]

Draft Value & Moving First-Rounders

• Evidence suggests late first-round picks matter more than GMs may realize—unless you’re a true contender.
• “Even those late first-round picks matter maybe more than we give them credit for.”
  —Shayna, [24:02]

Building Olympic Rosters: USA & Canada

[29:03–53:10]

Spicy Roster Takes

[29:03–35:53]

• Shayna's USA Take:
  • Dylan Larkin must be on Team USA and play major minutes.
    • “Get Dylan Larkin on there. Get that man at the face off dot at every chance they go.”
      —Shayna, [29:34]
• Sean's USA Take:
  • Cole Caufield belongs on the roster over veterans like Patrick Kane.
    • “Put him on and take Kane off ... We need Cole Caufield just for the sake of fun, because he’s been good!”
      —Sean, [31:29]
• Debated using “shooters” like Caulfield vs. sticking with experienced playmakers.
• On Kane: “If you’re trying to put out the best roster, I—you know, maybe Caulfield isn’t the guy that replaces him, but I think you can do better than him [Kane] in some capacity.”
  —Sean, [34:11]

Nick Suzuki for Canada:

• All agree his offensive and all-situations growth merits a secure Olympic slot.

Team Canada: Tom Wilson & Emerging Stars

[35:53–42:55]

• Sean asserts Tom Wilson is lock-worthy:
  • “If everyone wants to sit there and obsess over the element the Kachuks bring to the US team—fine ... I think Wilson, you know, if you’re looking for counterbalance, you got it.” —Sean, [36:03]
• Shayna: “He can now go up against top competition and play a shutdown role… it’s not just the physicality, it’s not just the offense.”
• Sam Bennett and Travis Konecny discussed as possible fringe/controversial picks.

Bedard or Celebrini as Canada's Teen Prodigy?

• Consensus: Only one will likely make the team.
• Shayna's pick: Celebrini—due to maturity, multi-situational play, and prior international experience.
  • “If Celebrini doesn’t slow down in the next month, I would pick him.” —Shayna, [42:55]
• Sean points out: “His game is already such that you don’t need him to be top six; he can play effective depth roles.”

Crowd-Sourced Roster Projections

[45:15–52:09]

Team Canada Forward Pool (sample projection):

• Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Braden Point, Sam Reinhart, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson, Anthony Cirelli, Macklin Celebrini, Brandon Hagel, +1 (Jarvis/Schiefele/Bennett debated)
  • “If you want versatility, go for a Jarvis or Bennett over Scheifele." —Shayna, [46:05]

Team USA Forwards (sample projection):

• Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, Tage Thompson, Matt Boldy, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, J.T. Miller, Cole Caufield, +1 (Nelson/Nyes/Kane debated)
  • “I think it’s very clear like Jack Hughes isn’t going to be viewed as a center—there probably. Shouldn’t.” —Shayna, [51:43]

The Kachuk Brothers’ Health

• Both need to be healthy and productive for the USA’s spark:
  • “That’s the secret sauce for them—they have all the BS, but they augment it with being elite hockey players.”
    —Sean, [48:40]

Fringe Debates

• Matthew Nyes for USA? Unconvinced.
• Patrick Kane’s Olympic spot? Out, sentimentally missed but "if we’re building the best team, gotta move on."
• Sam Bennett for Canada? “If you have a Wilson, do you need a Bennett?”
  —Shayna, [40:13]

Goalie Hot Take!

• Shayna: “My hot take—it's going be Jeremy Swayman that takes over [for Team USA].”
  —Shayna, [52:46]

Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• “Who among us can watch all of the games when they’re all on at the same time, honestly?”
  —Shayna, [06:17]
• “Delete Facebook. Why? Yeah, stop doing this.”
  —Haley, poking fun at fake hockey rumors, [12:01]
• “Nobody, no American, has more goals than Cole Caufield in the NHL right now.”
  —Haley, [34:57]
• “Are we friends? Or are you here to build a roster?”
  —Shayna, roasting debates about legacy picks, [34:54]
• “We've simply built a Team Canada that's too powerful for my taste.”
  —Sean, [46:49]

Closing Stick-Tap: Brad Marchand's Kindness

[58:59–61:45]

• Brad Marchand missed Panthers practice to coach a friend’s U18 team to support after a bereavement.
• “Just an incredible show of support and friendship from Brad Marchand ... Just a really beautiful gesture by a guy who’s showing that deeper well than people maybe thought when everyone was hating him and calling him a rat.”
  —Haley, [61:45]

Key Timestamps

• [03:07] — Opening; NHL early standings surprises
• [12:35] — Utah Mammoth's breakout, Logan Cooley contract
• [18:43] — Where top NHLers come from; Shayna's Player Tiers story
• [29:03] — Transition to Olympic roster debate
• [29:34] — Spicy USA take: Dylan Larkin
• [31:29] — Spicy USA take: Cole Caufield over Patrick Kane
• [35:53] — Team Canada: Tom Wilson, Sam Bennett, youth movement
• [42:55] — Bedard vs. Celebrini debate
• [45:15] — Building Canada and USA forward groups in real-time
• [52:46] — Goalie hot take: Swayman for USA
• [58:59] — Brad Marchand’s off-ice leadership, final note

Takeaways & Tone

• The discussion is insightful, fast-paced, and sometimes irreverent, but always grounded in sharp analytics and up-to-the-minute league knowledge.
• The hosts and guests challenge each other—especially on legacy vs. emerging star debates.
• Both Team Canada and USA face deliciously hard choices—fans can expect big names to be left home and “new guard” players to rise.

Summary by Key Themes

1. Early Season Surprises

• Penguins and Utah Mammoth are ahead of schedule; lessons about not judging too quickly.

2. NHL Roster Construction Trends

• Elite NHLers overwhelmingly homegrown; blockbuster trades/free agency are increasingly rare sources of top-end talent.

3. Olympic Roster Debates

• Stakes and emotions run high with calls for youth, speed, and skill to overtake reputation.
• Names like Larkin, Caufield, Suzuki, and Celebrini at center of debates.
• Patrick Kane and other veterans likely squeezed out in favor of current form.

4. Human Side of Hockey

• Closing with Marchand’s selfless act highlights how the sport’s community bonds run deep.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode gives a lively, richly detailed look at how elite hockey teams are built—at both club and Olympic level—through stats, scouting acumen, and tough choices. Jaw-dropping stats (the lack of free agency stars!), genuine hot takes (youth vs. vets), and plenty of good-natured chirps are on offer.

If you want to be prepared for the coming Olympic debates, this one’s a must-listen—or just use this summary and argue your friends into oblivion.