The Athletic Hockey Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: How the Wild’s Quinn Hughes impacts the Avalanche and Stars
Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Haley Salvian & Sean Gentille
Guest: Joe Smith (Minnesota Wild beat writer, The Athletic)

Overview

This episode focuses on Quinn Hughes' blockbuster trade to the Minnesota Wild, dissecting its immediate and future impact on both the Wild and the competitive Central Division. Haley, Sean, and guest Joe Smith discuss the trade’s reverberations, how the Wild’s roster now stacks up against the Avalanche and Stars, team trajectories, and related NHL news, using their trademark banter and insight. The show also touches on the Pittsburgh Penguins' surprising sale, the surging Florida Panthers, concerns with the Winnipeg Jets, a Seattle Kraken PR controversy, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Penguins Sale: Fenway Sports Out, Hoffman Family In

[03:49–10:44]

• Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is selling the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Chicago-based Hoffman family after only four years of ownership.
• FSG sought minority partners, but the Hoffmans wanted a complete takeover.
• FSG saw a chance to flip their $900 million purchase for around $1.8 billion, prioritizing profit over local connection:

  "FSG...they are a money making endeavor above all else. I think they saw the opportunity to take a $900 price tag and turn it into a $1.75 or $1.8 billion sale price." (Sean Gentille, 05:08)

• FSG were “absentee landlords” but financially supportive; Penguins fans are urged to temper excitement about “local” ownership, as the Hoffmans are a corporate family.
• There’s optimism about a return for Mario Lemieux and the Hoffmans’ existing hockey interests:

  "The Hoffman family above all else, seem like they really care about hockey...they check a lot of boxes." (Sean, 08:20)

• Summary: Change of ownership driven by profit, not crisis, and open questions remain about emotional investment and future success.

2. Around the NHL: Panthers Surging, Jets Struggling

[10:44–18:00]
Florida Panthers:

• From last in the East on Dec. 2 to six wins in seven games; one point out of the playoffs.

  "They have gone from last in the east on December 2nd to winning six of their last seven...one point out of being in a tie for a playoff spot." (Haley Salvian, 11:17)

• Carter Verhaeghe (7 goals in December) has powered recent success.
• The Panthers are beating good teams, not just basement dwellers—momentum building as they await Matthew Tkachuk’s return.

Winnipeg Jets:

• Lost again, 1-0 to the Blues; injury and regression have them sliding.
• Murat Atesh’s article ("Are the jets already cooked?") and Dom Luszczyszyn’s prediction models were referenced with skepticism and humor.

  "I just feel like they're gonna be stuck in the mushy middle and that's obviously not a great place to be." (Haley Salvian, 18:09)

• Still a chance to reverse fate, but the Central is tighter than ever as other teams improve.

3. Feature Interview: Joe Smith on Quinn Hughes to Minnesota

[21:37–37:35]

Quinn Hughes’ Arrival in Minnesota

• Shock and excitement swept Minnesota after the Wild acquired Hughes—a true "franchise-altering" move.
• Team and fans responded with overwhelming enthusiasm; Hughes received a standing ovation in his debut.

  "The guy got a standing ovation at the end of warmups…anytime he had the puck…anticipation and making some noise…" (Joe Smith, 23:08)

• Immediate on-ice impact: transformed power play, energized blue line, and generated offense where previously lacking.

How He Changes the Team

• The Wild's defense was previously 29th in blue line points; Hughes instantly elevates their attack.
• Early indications are Hughes will pair with Faber, giving the Wild a dynamic top pair, with Brodin-Spurgeon as a strong second duo.

  "It's hard to find maybe outside of Colorado a better top six [defense] right now." (Joe Smith, 26:58)

Impact on Central Division Arms Race

• Colorado is still “the class” of the division, but Hughes brings Minnesota closer to the Avs/Stars tier, especially for playoff matchups.

  "I think the Wild were obviously looking like a contender before this trade...now add Hughes and that puts them right with Dallas." (Haley Salvian, summary)

• Gives Minnesota a chance to check off "elite defenseman" on the “Cup contender” checklist.

Goalie Outlook

• Gustafsson and Wallstedt share a productive timeshare; likely to continue split until one emerges down the stretch.

  “I do think they're going to continue that from the time being...But I'll be curious if that changes…if somebody can, quote, unquote, win the net going into the playoffs.” (Joe Smith, 34:05)

The Future: Quinn Hughes' Long-Term Stay

• No immediate promise to sign long-term, but Hughes made unprompted public remarks about feeling highly valued by GM Bill Guerin:

  "He went out of his way to basically say it made a big difference for me that Billy Guerin was sacking up and giv[ing] up all these prospects…He truly means that." (Joe Smith, 34:36)

• Winning will be key to retention; potential for a shorter “prove-it” or “bridge” deal, with speculation about joining brother Jack Hughes later.
• The Wild are betting on at least two playoff runs with Hughes, but would consider flipping him if an extension proves impossible.

Memorable Quote:

"It's wild what happens when you add a top two defenseman in the league to your blue line, how everything else just kind of magically falls into place."
—Sean Gentille, [27:27]

4. Aftermath, Devils’ Loss, and the “Sacking Up” Moment

[41:49–44:54]

• Haley discusses the now-viral Hughes quote thanking Guerin for “sacking up” and trading for him—framing it as, in part, a jab at New Jersey’s Tom Fitzgerald for not making the deal.

  "Every time I see that quote about Bill Guerin sacking up, I just see that as a shot at Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils." (Haley Salvian, 41:49)

• Sean and Haley agree: the Devils’ inaction was a missed opportunity as Hughes now contemplates Minneapolis as a long-term home.

5. Oddball of the Week: Seattle Kraken PR Fiasco

[45:05–52:46]

• Controversy: After a recent loss, head coach Lane Lambert’s postgame presser featured only team staff asking questions—local media were frozen out.
• Team PR later claimed responsibility, saying it was to “protect” Lambert—not the coach’s idea.
• Both hosts found it unprofessional, damaging press trust and painting the staff as "hiding" from accountability.

  “That’s not how things are done. People are going to notice, if nothing else, man…this isn’t full-on state media.” (Sean Gentille, 50:29)

• A “welcome to the big leagues” moment for a struggling, regressing Seattle team, and a posting of harsh lessons in sports-media relations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Penguins sale, absentee owners:

  "You do feel like there's an absentee landlord opponent to all this, but also Fenway…paid all the bills and they cut all the checks that Kyle Dubas could have wanted."
  (Sean Gentille, 06:33)

• On Minnesota fans’ reaction:

  "The guy got a standing ovation at the end of warmups…That whole place went nuts."
  (Joe Smith, 23:08)

• On Central Division arms race:

  "It gives them a much better chance to advance. It doesn't give them all of a sudden [the status of] the number one team in the Central."
  (Joe Smith, 31:20)

• On retention hopes for Hughes:

  "His relationship with Bill Guerin and how this trade came about…will help with some goodwill…But the number one thing to me…is winning."
  (Joe Smith, 34:36)

• On the Devils not getting Hughes:

  "Just do it because then you run the risk of Quinn Hughes ending up in Minnesota."
  (Sean Gentille, 43:41)

• On the Kraken PR gaffe:

  "That's not how things are done. People are going to notice...this isn’t full-on state media."
  (Sean Gentille, 50:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:49 | Penguins sale explained | | 10:44 | Florida Panthers surge; Verhaeghe’s heater | | 15:07 | Winnipeg Jets struggles, Central Division talk | | 21:37 | Joe Smith on Quinn Hughes to Minnesota | | 23:01 | Reaction inside Minnesota to the trade | | 26:02 | Best defensive pairings (Hughes-Faber) setup | | 29:07 | Forward/center depth post-trade | | 31:20 | Impact on Central Division arms race | | 33:02 | Wild goalie situation: Wallstedt vs Gustafsson | | 34:35 | Discussion on keeping Hughes long-term | | 41:49 | Devils missed opportunity; Quinn’s “sacking up” quote | | 45:05 | Seattle Kraken’s PR press conference controversy | | 50:29 | Media accountability, Kraken situation critique | | 53:00 | Closing schedule/housekeeping |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, witty, and informed with healthy doses of humor and skepticism.
• Breaks down advanced hockey analysis into accessible language.
• Candid about league dynamics, front office psychology, and team PR mishaps.

Takeaway

This episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of how the Quinn Hughes trade tilts the Central Division power structure, brings Minnesota potentially to the brink of perennial contention, and highlights both the exhilarating and unpredictable nature of NHL team-building. It also provides sharp, entertaining takes on league news, ownership drama, and hockey’s unique cultural moments. Whether you’re a Wild fan dreaming of playoff breakthroughs or a broader NHL follower, Haley, Sean, and Joe contextualize the game’s latest seismic shift.

For more Wild, Avs, and NHL coverage, visit The Athletic and follow Haley, Sean, and Joe’s reporting.