The Athletic Hockey Show — "Is Nathan MacKinnon better than Connor McDavid?"

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Sean Gentili, Sean McIndew, Frankie Corrado

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic Hockey Show dives into the red-hot debate circulating the NHL: Has Nathan MacKinnon surpassed Connor McDavid as the best player in hockey—at least, right now? The panel weighs current form, career legacy, team situations, playing styles, and how the conversation reflects changing perceptions within the league. The second major topic is a look at the Minnesota Wild's resurgence behind young goalie Jesper Wallstedt and how goaltending (or lack thereof) is shaping teams' fortunes, especially Winnipeg and Edmonton. The hosts wrap up with Olympic hockey talk and a grab bag of fun NHL observations.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The NHL's Shifting Landscape

[02:22 - 03:28]

• Sean Gentili introduces a quirky stat: Only one team in each of the Atlantic and Pacific divisions (Tampa and Anaheim) have a positive goal differential, a rarity last seen in 1998-99.
• The main storyline: The best player in the league isn't a foregone conclusion—MacKinnon vs. McDavid is now a fair debate.

2. The Big Question: MacKinnon or McDavid?

[03:28 – 15:05]

Framing the Debate

• Frankie Corrado asks if we're talking about “one game right now” or “starting a franchise.” The focus is: Who’s the best player today, in this moment?

Case for Nathan MacKinnon (Presently)

(Frankie Corrado, 05:22)

“29. Nathan MacKinnon right now, this moment, this snapshot in time, is the best player in the league. I think Connor McDavid overall is the greatest player of his generation... But this is one of those times where we're seeing a bit of a dip from Connor McDavid... and Nathan McKinnon is just absolutely on fire.”

(Sean McIndew, 06:06)

• Runs through statistical dominance: five goals in four games, led the league in even-strength points in November, Avs outscoring opponents 37-9 with MacKinnon on ice.
• Emphasizes MacKinnon’s competitiveness, referencing his postgame “bored and mean” demeanor:

  "He was bored, but he was also mean... I need one dude for one game, yeah, I'll take the dog." [07:16]

Acknowledging McDavid’s Standard

(Sean Gentili, 07:41)

• Recognizes how unusual the debate feels after years of McDavid’s dominance.
• Notes McDavid’s recent heavy playoff workload and team circumstances might have opened the door for MacKinnon.

(Frankie Corrado, 09:29)

“How great is Connor McDavid that the fact that the second-best player in the world is having an all-time heater... and that is enough for us to go, maybe just in this snapshot of time, number two has surpassed number one.”

Skills Comparison

• Goal Scoring:
  (Sean Gentili, 10:39)

  “Nathan McKinnon is absolutely the better and more potent goal scorer... much more willing to shoot in more dangerous areas and be more of a shot threat than McDavid.”

Psychological Edge & Rivalry

• The panel jokes about MacKinnon's (fictionalized) personal motivation to beat out even unexpected challengers like Morgan Geeky:
  Sean Gentili (12:11):

  "You think Nathan McKinnon cares about Morgan Geeky? He probably looks at that and says, dude, you're nowhere near me. And I am going to blow away from you. Not annoyed. Pissed that Morgan Geeky would even enter the conversation, my friend."

Playoff/Rings Culture

(Sean McIndew, 13:11):

"Connor McDavid was on the roster in a must-win game... and his team lost. If we want to make that the differentiation point for this discussion, I'll take the dude who won the Cup..."

• Rebuttal (Frankie Corrado, 14:09): McDavid also won the Four Nations gold, scoring the OT-winner—with MacKinnon on the same team.

Olympic Implications

(Sean Gentili, 14:40):

• The Olympics may clarify who the hockey world, including rival coaches, sees as the “true” top threat based on matchups and ice-time decisions.

3. Goaltending Focus: The Minnesota Wild & Jesper Wallstedt

[20:26 – 29:12]

Wallstedt’s Emergence

• Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt records another shutout versus Edmonton, now sporting a 7-game win streak, .944 save percentage, and five shutouts in just 15 career appearances.

Sean McIndew (21:26):

"This is a team that I watched in October. They looked as bad as anybody could look... In comes Wallstedt, now they're 12-1-2."

• Second-best duo with Philip Gustafson? Gentili and Corrado both heap praise.

Edmonton's Draft Misses

• The sting for Edmonton: they passed on drafting Wallstedt in 2021, took Xavier Bourgault, then watched Dallas pick Wyatt Johnston immediately after—compounding the pain.

Comparative Development

Frankie Corrado, 25:14:

"Two months ago, we would have looked at that pick and said what a bust that's turned out to be... this was supposed to be Gustafson's team. No... he's ready to be Terry Sawchuk right now."

Calder Trophy Race

• Can Wallstedt challenge frontrunner Matthew Savoie (Schaefer) for rookie of the year?
• If Wallstedt keeps starting and Minnesota’s success continues, he could be a serious contender.

4. Winnipeg Jets: The Impact of Losing a Star Goalie

[29:39 – 37:28]

• Without Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets are floundering, sitting outside the playoffs over the last 13 games.
• The panel highlights how much a top goalie can “mask” a team’s flaws.
  Frankie Corrado, 32:02:

"You're nervous, you're tentative, you feel like, oh, I can't make that play because... it's going to go in and I'm going back to the bench with a minus."

• The current backup isn’t terrible—but “average” is a huge drop for a team used to elite goaltending.

Playoff Picture

• The Jets’ odds look tough—the Central Division is too deep to allow a prolonged slump without falling out of contention for home ice.

5. Olympic Hockey, Arena Woes, and Roster "Conspiracies"

[40:41 – 43:05]

Olympic Arena Issues

• The Olympic rink might be four feet shorter than standard, and the venue is reportedly far from finished.
  Sean McIndew, 42:11:

“One source... said organizers needed ‘a big bomb, not just a fire, to get their asses in gear on the construction.’”

Roster Building Paranoia

• Sean jokes the small ice is a conspiracy for Team Canada to justify bringing Tom Wilson (tough, physical) over Bedard (flashier, skill).

6. Around the NHL: Fun Observations & Storylines

[43:57 – end]

• Rangers vs. Red Wings color-on-color jersey game was a hit, with the league likely to replicate it.
• Bonus info: McDavid coming to Pittsburgh could be the time he breaks a points record—expect Sean McIndew to be in the press box as the "target" of a McDavid celebration.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Frankie Corrado (05:22):

  “Nathan McKinnon right now, this moment… is the best player in the league. … One game to play tonight, Nathan McKinnon is my number one center over Connor McDavid.”

• Sean McIndew (06:06):

  "We're watching peak Nathan MacKinnon right now... Avs are outscoring the other team 37 to 9 when he's on the ice this season. That's what tips it over for me."

• Sean Gentili (10:39):

  "Nathan McKinnon is absolutely the better and more potent goal scorer… [he’s] much more willing to shoot in more dangerous areas and be more of a shot threat than McDavid.”

• Frankie Corrado (09:29):

  “How great is Connor McDavid that the fact that the second-best player in the world is having an all-time heater... and that is enough for us to go, maybe... number two has surpassed number one.”

• Sean Gentili on the Olympics (15:05):

  “When we get to the Olympics, it will be telling how other teams and other coaching staffs view this... There’s going to be a matchup and there’s going to be an ice time allocation that will tell us what’s what.”

• Sean McIndew, on Minnesota (21:26):

  “This is a team that I watched in October. They looked as bad as anybody could look... In comes Wallstedt, now they're 12-1-2."

• Frankie Corrado, on Wallstedt (25:14):

  “...supposed to be Gustafson’s team... No... he’s ready to be Terry Sawchuk right now.”

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:22] – Introduction to the McDavid vs. MacKinnon debate and the state of the NHL
• [05:22] – Who is the best player today? Panel’s initial picks
• [06:06] – MacKinnon’s current stats and what makes him different
• [09:29] – Appreciating McDavid's usual dominance and what it means for the rivalry
• [10:39] – MacKinnon as the better goal-scorer (right now)
• [11:42-12:43] – Humor at Morgan Geeky’s expense, MacKinnon’s drive
• [13:11] – Playoff “rings culture” enters the debate
• [14:40] – Olympic implications for best player perception
• [20:26] – Jesper Wallstedt and Minnesota Wild’s hot streak
• [21:26] – Wallstedt’s stats and impact
• [25:14] – Goalie development timeline, Wallstedt’s breakout
• [29:39] – Winnipeg’s struggles post-Hellebuyck
• [36:18] – Playoff race implications in the Central Division
• [40:41] – Olympic rink construction chaos
• [43:57] – NHL considering more color-on-color jersey games

Tone & Style

The episode is brisk, lively, and replete with sharp, witty banter. The hosts encourage debate and poke fun at league tropes (“rings culture,” American checking lines), but back up arguments with stats and league context. Occasional playful jabs—both at players and themselves—keep the episode entertaining.

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode provides a timely, in-depth look at how the "best player in the NHL" question is no longer rhetorical thanks to MacKinnon's historic heater and slight dip in McDavid's form. The debate is nuanced, respecting McDavid’s overall generational status while spotlighting why MacKinnon might be tops right now. Shifting to the league’s heavyweights in goal, the show demonstrates how Minnesota and Winnipeg’s fates are almost entirely hinged on their netminders’ fortunes. The hosts handle these complex, evolving storylines with their trademark blend of humor, stats, and accessible explanations—making it a perfect listen for anyone eager to keep up with the season’s defining narratives.