The Athletic Hockey Show – Did Patrick Roy Cross the Line in Dallas?

Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Sean Gentille with Frankie Corrado and Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the fallout from New York Islanders coach Patrick Roy’s emotional, expletive-laden outburst directed at Miko Rantanen after a controversial hit in the Islanders–Stars game. The hosts break down the incident itself, the implications for “the code” in hockey, likely league responses, and comparisons to hockey history. The latter half of the show spotlights the dazzling performances of Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard, both prodigious Canadian forwards breaking into NHL superstardom, and their potential roles on Team Canada for upcoming international tournaments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Patrick Roy Rant: Did He Cross the Line?

(Segment starts: 02:43)

The Incident Recap

• Patrick Roy, visibly upset after a hit from Miko Rantanen on Romanov, delivered a threat toward Rantanen, caught loudly on arena microphones, saying:
  • "Next time you play, you’re not going to effing finish the game."
• The hosts clarify this wasn’t post-game bravado, but a heat-of-the-moment outburst as the injured player was being tended to on the ice.

Breaking Down the Hit

• Frankie Corrado:

  • “Rantanen is not a dirty player… this is not something we’ve seen from Miko Rantanen… He’s a strong, physical guy, but this is an isolated thing.” (03:37)
  • The play was a “bad storm” — Romanov was in a vulnerable spot, skates collided; not a “truck stick” scenario.

• Agrees the hit was unfortunate but not malicious, and notes Scott Mayfield may have contributed some interference.

The “Code” and Roy’s Comments

• Frankie Corrado:

  • “Coaches don’t like that type of stuff. That’s kind of crossing the line.” (04:36)
  • “You gotta let the players talk about that stuff… you can’t talk to the players.”

• Sean McIndoe:

  • The league is highly sensitive to threats or “premeditated” violence, especially post-Bertuzzi/Moore.
  • “The league does not want to hear anything that could sound like a threat or a promise.” (06:30)

Likely League Response

• Roy will face discipline (likely a fine), and the league will monitor the teams’ rematch on March 26, possibly sending officials to keep order.

Will There Be Retaliation?

• Corrado and McIndoe joke about the lack of an obvious "enforcer" on the Islanders roster (previously Ross Johnston) who could carry out such a “promise”:
  • McIndoe: “It might be Patrick Roy. He might be the guy.” (11:58)
• Suggests in modern hockey, the threat is more empty than actionable, but the league must be proactive nonetheless.

Historical Parallel: Fight Night at the Joe

• March 26—the next Isles-Avs meeting—is the anniversary of the infamous Red Wings-Avs brawl (“Fight Night at the Joe”), with Patrick Roy as a key figure in that 1997 chaos.
  • McIndoe: “You telling me Patrick was not looking at the calendar and seeing March 26th and just twitching a little bit about payback?” (14:07)
• The game has changed, but the symmetry is “hockey gods” at work.

The Stress of Modern Enforcer Roles

• Corrado: “If there was a single dude that you’re like, that guy’s a heavy… now that guy’s got to live the next four months kind of wondering, like, do I have to take out Rantanen or something?” (17:40)

2. Islanders' Matthew Schaefer: Rookie Sensation

(Segment starts: 18:59)

• Schaefer’s highlight-reel play (behind-the-back, through-the-legs move on Dallas) is discussed as emblematic of his fearless style.

  • Corrado: “It’s amazing how fearless he is... he just plays fearless, right? Not loose… but not necessarily afraid of what consequences are.” (20:01)

• Comparison to Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes; Schaefer seen as the next elite defenseman, already amongst NHL’s top defenders before age 20.

3. Celebrini & Bedard: Generation Next Shines

(Segment starts: 26:18)

Historic Hat Tricks

• Both Macklin Celebrini (San Jose) and Connor Bedard (Chicago) achieved hat tricks on the same day—the first time since 1944 for two under-20s.
  • D: “Celebrini has 30 points now... the fourth teenager in history to do that. Who are the other three?”
    (27:40)

Elite Company

• Only Gretzky, Crosby, and Lemieux have matched Celebrini’s under-20 points pace.
  • McIndoe: “That is all absolutely wild. That’s crazy. That’s stunning... When you’re on a Mount Rushmore with Gretzky, Mario and Sid? Yeah, pretty good.” (28:42)

No Sophomore Slump

• Corrado: “There's always that sophomore slump… That is not the case for him [Celebrini].”
  • Highlights both are logging 20+ minutes nightly, not “just riding heaters.”

Team Canada Olympic Debate

(32:12–39:34)

• Debates whether both Bedard and Celebrini will/should make Team Canada, given veteran roster biases.

  • Corrado: “If both these guys don’t make the team… there’s literally nothing he could have done to put himself on that team.” (31:00)
  • McIndoe: “They just have to kick down the door and leave no doubt. And they're doing it right now.” (33:19)

• Gentille suggests Celebrini’s all-around (“200-foot game”) reputation may make him a safer pick for selectors, while Bedard’s fit is less clear if he’s not top-six.

The Ghost Roster & Defensive Roster Trap

• Corrado warns of overemphasis on role definition and defense, citing Team Canada World Juniors “leaving too much firepower at home.”
• McIndoe references the 1998 “ghost roster” (Rob Zamuner over Mark Messier):
  • “Right up until there’s five minutes left in a gold medal game... and you’re looking down the bench going, I don’t think Anthony Cirelli is a guy we want to be throwing out there.” (41:39)

4. Quick Hits and Closing Thoughts

(Segment: 45:56 onward)

What We Learned

• McIndoe teases a forthcoming “immutable law of the hockey universe” (46:10).

• Critiques Rangers captain J.T. Miller for lackluster defensive effort, ironically at odds with his reputation as a vocal team leader.

  • “He’s got to really sit down and have a heart to heart with Rangers player J.T. Miller about the lack of effort on one goal in particular…” (46:39)

• Gentille shares news that NHL will encourage more color-vs-color jersey matchups (e.g., Red Wings vs. Rangers), leaving drab “white-vs-dark” behind.

  • “There’s no reason why this shouldn’t happen… It takes some amount of effort, but it’s all well and good.” (49:37)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Frankie Corrado on hockey’s code:
  “That’s kind of crossing the line. You gotta let the players talk about that stuff… you can’t talk to the players.” (04:35)

• Sean McIndoe on league response:
  “The league does not want to hear anything that could sound like a threat or a promise or premeditated.” (06:30)

• Gentille on Schaefer:
  “He’s the best rookie in the league... one of the 10 best defensemen, insanely enough.” (19:10)

• McIndoe on historic company:
  “That is all absolutely wild. That’s crazy. That’s stunning... When you’re on a Mount Rushmore with Gretzky, Mario and Sid? Yeah, pretty good.” (28:42)

• Corrado on Team Canada selection:
  “If both these guys don’t make the team… there’s literally nothing he could have done to put himself on that team.” (31:00)

Key Timestamps for Reference

• 02:43 – Show begins; Patrick Roy incident introduced
• 03:27 – Hit analyzed (Corrado’s breakdown)
• 05:48 – What Roy said and the league's view
• 06:55 – Discussion of NHL’s reaction to threats
• 14:00 – March 26 and Fight Night at the Joe reference
• 18:59 – Islanders beat Dallas, Schaefer's highlight play
• 20:01 – Corrado on Schaefer’s defensive play
• 26:18 – Celebrini and Bedard NHL hat trick feats
• 28:42 – Celebrini in rarefied statistical company
• 32:12 – Team Canada forward debate
• 41:39 – Concerns about Canada’s “defensive” roster trap
• 45:56 – “What we learned” segment: McIndoe on NHL law, Miller critique
• 49:37 – NHL color-vs-color jersey policy discussed

Tone & Style

Conversational, irreverent, and packed with sharp hockey insight and historical perspective. The hosts don’t shy away from humor or some light ribbing, combining their journalistic chops with plenty of personality.

In Summary:
This episode gives an in-depth, fresh analysis of Patrick Roy’s boundary-pushing outburst, places it in broader league history, and explores the ongoing evolution of hockey culture—on and off the ice. On the ice, a youthful Canadian wave led by Celebrini, Bedard, and Schaefer is rapidly transforming expectations—and sparking fierce debates over Team Canada’s future.