The Athletic Hockey Show — NHL Front-Office Rankings: No-State-Tax Teams Dominate

Podcast: The Athletic Hockey Show
Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Sean Gentili, Sean McIndoe, Frankie Corrado

Episode Overview

This episode dives into The Athletic’s newly published NHL front-office rankings, featuring insights drawn from polling 37 executives across 27 NHL teams. The hosts discuss notable trends—particularly the dominance of no-state-tax teams—debate the rationale behind the rankings, and unpack the implications for teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, and more. Beyond the rankings, the conversation covers current developments with the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and quirky NHL player milestones.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inside the NHL Front-Office Rankings (02:16–19:34)

• Origins & Methodology:
  The rankings are built from the votes and commentary of 37 execs from 27 teams, offering an insider’s view of how hockey’s power brokers see their peers.
• Florida Panthers Top the List ([06:45]):
  • No surprise—the Stanley Cup champs finally claim the #1 spot after years of strong but underappreciated team-building.
  • Frankie Corrado: “Every move that they've made... everything they've done has worked. I find this list fascinating because, yes, the Panthers should be number one.” [06:48]
• The No-State-Tax Advantage
  • Top teams—Florida, Dallas, Tampa, Vegas (four of five)—reside in tax-friendly states.
  • Corrado: “Some people would look at that and say, ‘Well, no wonder they’re great GMs...’ But state tax doesn’t matter about drafting Roope Hintz or Wyatt Johnston... It shows when a front office can flex their muscle.” [12:37]
• Other Top Performers
  • Dallas: Previously #1, still respected for drafting and development, but have yet to win it all.
  • Winnipeg: Lauded for effective moves despite market challenges (“...if we were having an honest conversation, every player who has a 10-team, no-trade [clause] likely has Winnipeg as one of those teams” — Corrado [13:11]).
  • Sean McIndoe: “Great. All you told me was all the teams that do well every year are in the top 10. But... there's a team missing.”
• Montreal’s Surprise Appearance
  The Canadiens have yet to win but are commended for clever cap structuring and locking up key young players—indicative of growing respect across the league.
  • Gentili: “Everyone's impressed by the way they've exited the rebuild... contract structures... found a way to lock up their key players and also leave themselves with some legit money to work with.” [08:30]

2. Notable Omissions and Damning Numbers (14:48–22:05)

• No Edmonton Oilers in the Top 10
  • Despite recent Cup final appearances, the Oilers only received votes from two execs (of 37).
  • Gentili: “When you frame it that way... only two execs... actually think they're a top-five team. I think that's... pretty damning.” [16:43]
  • The logic: Front offices see inheriting McDavid and Draisaitl as an “expected” advantage—not an indicator of managerial excellence.
• No Votes for Yzerman’s Red Wings
  • McIndoe: “Even a few years ago, if you had said Steve Yzerman is not getting a single vote, that would seem shocking... patience has completely run out in Detroit.” [19:58]
  • Hosts note that with Detroit’s young talent emerging, opinions could shift quickly.

3. Bottom of the List (19:34–22:05)

• 15 teams received zero votes, including San Jose and Chicago.
  • Mild surprise about San Jose given competent asset collecting in their current rebuild.
• The sense that a GM’s “buzz” or reputation is volatile—success in the standings is not enough, nor is it strictly necessary if narrative or process is strong.

4. Ottawa Senators Check-In (24:55–31:15)

• Frankie reports from Ottawa after watching the Sens lose to Edmonton.
• With Brady Tkachuk out, the team is “a work in progress,” struggling to find identity, balance offense and defense, and fix a problematic penalty kill.
• Discussion of the trendy “diamond” penalty kill, contrasts with Winnipeg’s approach, and the influence of Hellebuyck in net.
  • Corrado: “They're trying to get back to their identity as a team... and the penalty kill, like they just got to figure out when they're applying pressure, when they're laying back. It's a little discombobulated...” [26:41]
• Positives: Ottawa held Edmonton to two goals in regulation—a “building block” loss.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs Drama (31:15–35:51)

• Debate: Do the Maple Leafs lack identity—or just have the wrong one?
  • McIndoe: “I think the Leafs have an identity. I don't think it's the one that they want...” [31:31]
• Goalie Anthony Stolarz’s public call-out of teammates draws locker-room attention.
  • Corrado: “It's crazy to me that it got to the point... that Stolarz, you know, had to air things out publicly. But... it puts a target on your back within your room... appeasing the fan base doesn't go over well at the expense of your teammates.” [32:01]
  • McIndoe counters that fans welcomed his candor: “A large majority of Leafs Nation is team Stolarz on this one.” [35:19]
• Hosts agree: The pressure is on in Toronto, and this could become a defining sequence for the group.

6. Baseball/Broadcast Notes & Atlantic Division Rundown (35:51–38:41)

• Jokes about the Blue Jays success taking some media heat off the Leafs.
• Quick round-up: Red Wings’ early surge, Sens’ struggles, Flyers’ prospect excitement (Matvei Michkov storyline previewed for next episode).

7. Segment: “What Did We Learn?” and Alex Ovechkin’s Milestone (41:01–48:03)

• Brad Marchand’s emotional return to Boston—funny speculation about his “tears turning into little rats.” [41:08]
• Ovechkin’s approaching 1,500 NHL games with one franchise (Capitals).
  • Gentili: “He will become the eighth player to play 1,500 NHL games with the same team... Shame on me for not realizing that this was coming...” [43:00]
• Game show moment: McIndoe successfully guesses 6 of 7 “1,500 games with one team” club (Howe, Bork, Lidstrom, Yzerman, Delvecchio, Marleau; misses Shane Doan).
• Reflection on durability, longevity, and overlooked milestones.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Panther’s Front Office:
  “Everything they've done has worked... It’s the Panthers, and I’m not going to say it’s the field…there should be a pretty big gap.” – Frankie Corrado [06:48]

• On Tax Advantages:
  “You have to build the program in order to reap the benefits of what the tax situation is.” – Corrado [12:37]

• On Edmonton’s Shortcomings:
  “When you frame it that way…only two of these execs…actually think they're a top five team. I think that's pretty damning.” – Gentili [16:43]

• On Steve Yzerman’s Reputation:
  “Even a few years ago…Steve Yzerman not getting a single vote would seem shocking…patience has completely run out in Detroit.” – McIndoe [19:58]

• On Team Identity:
  “I think the Leafs have an identity. I don't think it’s the one that they want.” – McIndoe [31:31]

• On Locker Room Dynamics:
  “Appeasing the fan base doesn't go over well at the expense of your teammates.” – Corrado [35:19]

• On Marchand’s Redemption:
  “The rehabilitation of Brad Marchand’s reputation… He got the well-deserved ovation from Boston fans and he cried and the tears dripped onto the floor and turned into little tiny rats and scurried away and everybody was happy.” – McIndoe [41:08]

Timestamps for Essential Segments

• 02:16 — Show open, Ottawa check-in, intro to NHL front office rankings.
• 06:45 — Florida Panthers' dominance and reasons for top ranking.
• 12:37 — Discussion of no-state-tax effect and why it’s overblown.
• 14:48 — Edmonton’s absence from the top 10, deeper analysis.
• 19:34 — Which teams got zero votes? Surprising omissions.
• 24:55 — Ottawa Senators progress report, penalty kill talk.
• 31:15 — Maple Leafs' identity and Stolarz’s media comments.
• 41:01 — “What did we learn?" Marchand’s homecoming and Ovechkin’s 1,500 games milestone.
• 43:00 — Game show: Players with 1,500 games for one franchise.
• 48:03 — Wrap-up and preview for next week.

Tone & Style

Conversational, witty, and unfiltered—with plenty of inside jokes, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and friendly ribbing among hosts, the show balances fan insight with analyst expertise. Attribution is clear; the hosts lean into their personalities while moving briskly through big NHL storylines.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode unpacks not just who tops the NHL’s front-office rankings but why execs think the way they do, and what that says about how franchises build winners (and how some still fall short despite superstars). You’ll leave with insider context on the league’s most respected hockey operations departments—plus a fresh lens on Ottawa’s and Toronto’s current dramas, Ovechkin’s overlooked durability, and enough quips to keep things lively.