The Athletic Hockey Show: "Do the Ottawa Senators have a podcast problem?"

Date: April 2, 2026
Hosts: Haley Salvine & Sean Gentile, with guest Fluto Shinzawa

Overview

This episode dives into two core topics:

1. The Ottawa Senators' ongoing drama fuelled by the Tkachuk brothers' podcast and what it means for the team and its fanbase.
2. The Boston Bruins' surprising resurgence and masterful roster retool, with expert insight from The Athletic’s Bruins writer, Fluto Shinzawa.

Also covered: Toronto Maple Leafs' organizational turbulence, William Nylander's future, and a check-in on the Western Conference playoff race.

1. Ottawa Senators & The Tkachuk Podcast Controversy (02:37–20:29)

Main Theme

The hosts discuss heated reactions among Ottawa Senators fans sparked by recent viral clips from the Tkachuk brothers’ podcast, featuring captain Brady Tkachuk, his brother Matthew, and their father, Keith ("Walt") Tkachuk.

Key Discussion Points

a. Viral Podcast Clips Stirring Fan Outrage (04:44–08:13)

• Clips in question:
  1. Keith Tkachuk, on the Sens' injuries:
     • “Oh, my God, this team. My pinky hurts. I had a bad sleep. I can’t play today. There’s risk management. Oh, my God, it’s disgusting.”
  2. Keith asks Brady about his contract:
     • “Brady, how many years do you have left?”
     • Walt and Matthew: “Nice timing. That’s for another day.”
• Brady’s reaction: Silent, head down.
• Matthew tries to redirect: "Okay, okay, let's move on."

b. The Implications & Fan Reaction (08:13–13:37)

• Sean Gentile:

  “The Sens fanbase is right to be reactive... If they're mad about this, if they're concerned about this, completely justified. I don't know why this clip was released.... I’m saying, WTF?” (08:13)

• Haley Salvine:

  “Why are you even doing this in-season?... Why would you not just go to your producer and be like, hey, can we take that clip out of my dad ripping on the team I'm the captain of?” (10:14)

• Issue: Brady neither pushes back nor gets the segment edited.

c. Leadership, PR, and Unforced Errors (13:37–20:29)

• Sean:

  “The guy that we saw talking in those clips was not Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators captain. That was Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk's little brother, and Keith Tkachuk's son. He was right in that mode.” (11:29) “There were a lot of different choices that Brady could have made... He made none of them.” (15:53)

• Haley:

  “It’s just not a good look to have like the dad of the captain chirping the franchise and the captain just kind of sitting there.” (14:54)

• Sense of doom for Sens fans: Ongoing drama, captains in controversy, a feeling that the “new era” is tainted by weekly PR crises from this podcast.

d. Broader Reflections

• Sean:

  “People who want hockey players to show personality and put themselves out there, be careful what you wish for. It’s a monkey’s paw situation.” (16:42)

• Haley:

  “These just feel like unforced errors by a captain of a franchise with a fan base that have gone through A lot of shit with their captains, with their team in general over years and years.” (17:08)

2. Boston Bruins’ Stunning Turnaround – with Fluto Shinzawa (23:06–47:02)

Main Theme

How Don Sweeney, Marco Sturm, and elite goaltending have rapidly transformed the Bruins from basement dwellers to Eastern Conference contenders.

Key Discussion Points

a. Biggest Surprise in the East (23:06–24:52)

• Haley:

  “This time last season, the Boston Bruins were out of the playoff race... finished 28th... It looked like the bottom was finally going to drop... That has not been the case.”

• Fluto:

  “I would've put money on this being yet another season of trying to get back into the playoffs.... To be this comfortable in the wild card spot? Did not see it coming.” (24:00)

b. Under-the-Hood: What’s Pulling This Off? (24:52–27:45)

• Team still below water in expected goal share.
• Swayman’s goaltending: “If he's not in the Vezina finalists, then the GMs don't know what they're doing.” (26:09)
• Outperforming expected goals both for and against.

c. The Jeremy Swayman Effect (27:17–30:53)

• Fluto:

  “He is absolutely number one reason... I go through my mind, I can't think of any goals that he's let in that shouldn't have gone in. He's been tremendous.” (29:15)

• Swayman's resurgence attributed to:
  • Partnership with Linus Ullmark broken up.
  • Contract holdups and missed training camp.
  • Rediscovering confidence at Worlds last year.

d. Center Depth and Roster Construction (30:39–33:50)

• Sean:

  “I looked at [the center depth] in October... This isn't the center depth chart of a team that's going to have 94 points.”

• Fluto:
  • Lindholm, Zacha, Minton—no stars but good enough.
  • Minton may wear a letter in Boston someday.

e. Don Sweeney’s Trade Masterclass (35:30–39:56)

• Haley:

  “Victor Arvidsson, Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minton... all deals that have aged very well for the Boston Bruins, not so well for the teams that were dealing with Don Sweeney.”

• Fluto:

  “It’s hard to pick the best one... The obvious one is Minton. What did Carlo do for Toronto last year? Not much, this year forget it, and then Minton could be wearing a letter for Boston.”

  • Highlights Arvidsson, Maternal (Allmark trade), Kaslak, and a strong future draft position.
  • “That’s thievery for the Bruins.”

f. Coaching Impact: Marco Sturm & System (39:56–44:53)

• Sean:

  “How much does Marco Sturm have to do with that? Is he getting enough pub in the Jack Adams race?”

• Fluto:

  Describes: honest, direct, great at identifying how to use players (e.g., Mittelstadt). “The plan was for [Higgins] to finish out the year in Providence, not even see NHL games...” (parallels McAvoy’s path)

g. Bruins Playoff Outlook (44:57–46:25)

• Question: Can Boston beat Buffalo if they meet in round one?
• Fluto:

  “Sure. Because I think the goaltending could be a difference maker... Swayman’s playoff pedigree makes the difference.”

3. Toronto Maple Leafs Turmoil & Nylander’s Future (50:03–59:16)

Key Discussion Points

• Leafs up in the air:
  • Keith Pelly’s press conference and his claim of “four generational players” (Matthews, Nylander, Nyes, Tavares).
  • Sean:

    “My favorite line... we have four generational players... That phrase means nothing at this point.” (53:19)

• Nylander to Jonas:

  “Unless it was a full rebuild and we were going to get rid of everybody, then that’s a different story... I still want to be here.” (51:20)

• Debate: Is anyone on the team actually “generational”? Are the organizational moves on track?

4. Western Conference Playoff Race: Sharks Back In It (60:08–66:39)

Key Discussion Points

• San Jose’s surprising run:
  • Macklin Celebrini shines—“There is a generational talent.” (60:30)
  • Sharks suddenly winning, playoff spot in reach.
  • Sean:

    “All it takes is a team winning three games in a row to really get themselves back in the race... I was foolish to have written them off, you know, a few days ago.” (61:47)

• Haley:

  “Is there something to be said about getting that playoff experience versus a high draft pick...?”

• Senators cited as negative example of endless rebuilding not leading to playoff success.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sean, on the Tkachuk podcast drama:

  “The Sens fanbase is right to be reactive... If they're mad about this... completely justified. I'm saying, WTF?” (08:13)

• Haley, on Sens leadership:

  “Why would you not just go to your producer and be like, hey, can we take that clip out of my dad ripping on the team I'm the captain of?” (10:14)

• Sean, reflecting on personality in hockey:

  “Be careful what you wish for. If you want those guys to show their personalities, be prepared to not like what you see.” (16:42)

• Fluto, on the Bruins' transformation:

  “There aren’t any whiffs in terms of acquisitions, signings... This on-the-fly rebuild... it’s A-plus all around.” (27:17)

• Sean, on the definition of generational talent:

  “When you’re not the best player of your generation, you can’t be generational. Call me crazy.” (55:01)

Important Timestamps

• 02:37 – Opening banter, intro of topics
• 04:44–20:29 – Ottawa Senators drama & Tkachuk podcast breakdown
• 23:06–47:02 – Boston Bruins segment with Fluto Shinzawa
• 50:03–59:16 – Maple Leafs & Nylander news, “generational talents” debate
• 60:08–66:39 – Western Conference playoff race; Sharks' postseason push

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a sharp, irreverent, and candid tone, blending deep hockey analysis with playful banter and direct criticism. They do not shy from voicing strong opinions, especially regarding team management, player PR blunders, and overblown media narratives.

Conclusion

For listeners looking for a thoughtful yet cheeky breakdown of pressing NHL stories, this episode delivers an incisive look at the collision of new media and team culture (in Ottawa), an expertly guided tour of the Boston Bruins' unlikely resurgence, and high-level banter on Toronto’s identity crisis and the wild West playoff chase.

Next up: Max and Haley on Monday; more Athletic Hockey Show through the week.