The Athletic Hockey Show – December 11, 2025

Episode Focus: How will the NHL handle a last-minute Olympic pullout?
Host: Sean Gentille
Guest: Chris Johnston, NHL Insider

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Olympic hockey tournament venue in Milan, particularly last-minute rink construction issues and their potential impact on NHL player participation. Host Sean Gentille, joined by Chris Johnston live from Toronto, breaks down the logistics drama, how the NHL and its players are responding, possible contingency plans, and ramifications for future international events. The show also briefly covers trade rumors involving Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Rink Crisis in Milan

• Status of the Venue (04:12)

  • There is still no ice-making equipment installed in the main Olympic arena, which must host 33 games between men’s and women’s tournaments.
  • The women’s tournament is set to start February 5, giving a very tight window for completion.
  • NHL officials and ice technicians have been dispatched to Milan, but significant construction remains.
  • Quote:

    “The fact that we're talking in mid-December and this tournament for the women starts February 5th in that arena...that is certainly a sign of some trouble or potential trouble.” – Chris Johnston (04:12)

• Nature of the Construction Delay (04:12–05:29)

  • Delays are due to ongoing arena construction; materials still clutter the floor, preventing the installation of ice-making infrastructure.
  • Optimism from the NHL remains, but concerns are justified given the timeline.

• Player Perspective (06:18)

  • Players appear less concerned than fans or media; most are simply eager for the Olympic opportunity.
  • The rink size issue—a suspected metric-to-imperial miscommunication—may be more embarrassing than impactful.
  • Quote:

    “I think these guys would play on a frozen lake if they got a chance to be at the Olympics.” – Chris Johnston (06:18)

• Possible Causes of the Rink Issue (07:28)

  • The standard "lost in translation" joke between metric and imperial measurements is likely the actual cause.
  • NHL and IIHF have different default rink dimensions.

• Impact on Gameplay (07:46–08:34)

  • The actual discrepancy is minor; NHL will compensate by slightly shrinking the neutral zone.
  • It's not expected to make a dramatic difference on-ice, but the incident exposes disconnects among organizers.

2. Lack of NHL Plan B & Implications

• No Public Contingency Plan (08:34–11:17)

  • The NHL is intentionally not discussing alternatives so as not to cause unnecessary panic or “create a sensation by talking about shadow plans.”
  • Johnston does not believe there is a secret Plan B—if the rink isn’t ready, NHL player involvement is off the table.
  • The NHL sees itself as a guest at the Olympics; it’s not their place to micromanage Olympic infrastructure.
  • Quote:

    “If for whatever reason that arena in Milan isn’t...they can’t produce ice to a level that everyone’s satisfied with…there’s just going to be no Olympic tournament involving NHL players.” – Chris Johnston (09:40)

• World Cup as the Future (10:40–11:17, 12:44)

  • The league wants more control over international events and is looking at the World Cup as a model.
  • The difficulties with Olympic involvement reinforce the need for NHL-run tournaments.

• Host Viewpoint on NHL’s Role (11:17)

  • The NHL is justified in leaving the problem to Olympic organizers, given the complicated relationships between NHL, IIHF, and the IOC.
  • Quote:

    “You guys have made your bed. This is up to you to figure a way out. And if you don’t, we’re not going to be involved.” – Sean Gentille (11:17)

• Speculation About Alternative Venues (12:02)

  • There was talk about moving the tournament to Switzerland but the NHL “just isn’t getting involved in something like that.”

• What if the NHL Pulls Out? (14:04)

  • If the Olympics fall through, some regular season games might be rescheduled to fill the Olympic break, but arena availability (due to NBA games and concerts) would be a major hurdle.
  • There’s no detailed shadow schedule; adjustments would be made on the fly.
  • Quote:

    “If doomsday hit, it would be pretty much not much happening in February. There’s even a trade freeze… during that point in time…” – Chris Johnston (14:04)

• Key Date for Resolution (15:56)

  • Test events in the rink are scheduled for January 9–11.
  • This is the major checkpoint to determine if the arena is viable; otherwise, there may not be time to fix glaring issues before the tournament begins.
  • Comparison: Sochi’s rink in 2014 was tested a year in advance, showing how unusual this Milan situation is.

3. Quinn Hughes Trade Rumors (17:37)

• State of Play (18:10)

  • The Canucks’ preference is to extend Hughes, but as the team underperforms, calls from other clubs about his availability have increased.
  • Vancouver has been noncommittal about returns, even for lesser players like Kiefer Sherwood, suggesting uncertainty about rebuilding vs. retooling.
  • Quote:

    “Some people in Vancouver have described Quinn Hughes as the greatest Canucks player of all time…” – Chris Johnston (21:10)

• Potential Trade Structure (20:28–22:51)

  • No clear sense if a trade would focus on immediate NHL talent or prospects/picks for a rebuild.
  • Vancouver’s reluctance to fully rebuild has left the club “caught in the middle,” jeopardizing leverage and creating organizational instability.
  • Hughes, with unrestricted free agency on the horizon (2027), may push for resolution as his patience wanes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That’s like the joke explanation for how this happened…if you asked someone to write a joke…it was a conversion issue… the fact that that's actually potentially what happened is mind-boggling.”
  – Sean Gentille (07:28)

• “It just shows how sort of misaligned maybe the key stakeholders are that are organizing this tournament.”
  – Chris Johnston (07:46)

• “The lesson here for the NHL, I think, is they want more control and they just don’t have it in the way it works when you go to an Olympics.”
  – Chris Johnston (11:17)

• “We just need the games to get played so we don’t have to talk about this mess.”
  – Sean Gentille & Chris Johnston, referencing the wish to avoid Olympic disaster scenarios (15:19)

• “Some people in Vancouver I’ve seen describe Quinn Hughes as the greatest Canucks player of all time… if you’re making that kind of trade, I don’t know anyone…that’s gotten any sort of clear view [on a return].”
  – Chris Johnston (21:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Olympic Rink Crisis

  • Status of Venue: 04:12
  • Player & Stakeholder Reaction: 06:18
  • Rink Size Error Cause: 07:28

• NHL Contingency & World Cup Discussion

  • No Plan B: 08:34
  • League's Stance & Future (World Cup): 10:40–12:44
  • What Happens if NHL Pulls Out: 14:04
  • Key Test Event Date: 15:56

• Quinn Hughes Trade Scenario

  • Update and Rumor: 17:37–22:51

Overall Tone and Style

• Intelligent, energetic, occasionally irreverent.
• Strong sense of urgency but also humor around the absurdities of Olympic logistics.
• Deep hockey knowledge and reporting, balanced with relatable fan perspectives.

Recap

This episode provides a timely, inside look at an Olympic hockey ticking time bomb—from construction delays and rink confusion in Milan to the NHL’s almost Zen-like refusal to overprepare for chaos, preferring to shift focus to league-controlled international tournaments like the World Cup. It also serves fans with a dose of trade deadline intrigue around one of the sport’s biggest young stars, making for a tight, compelling, and highly informative listen.